pesters
Won't leave alone
Pesters is the third-person singular of pester, meaning to annoy or bother repeatedly with trivial requests or interruptions.
A child pesters a parent for candy; a salesperson pesters potential customers with calls.
The word implies persistent, low-grade harassment rather than serious threat: She pesters me about cleaning my room.
Causes irritation or disturbance
- irritatesProvokes mild anger
- aggravatesMakes more severe
- vexesCauses annoyance or distress
- irksMildly annoys
annoys · bugs · nettles · riles · galls · gets to · rankles · chafes
Striped burrowing mustelids
- houndsDogs bred to track
- hasslesBothersome inconveniences
- plaguesMass outbreaks of disease
- tormentsCauses severe distress
bedevils · persecutes · besieges · bombards · dogs · pursues · stalks · shadows
bothers
Causes irritation or disturbance
- irritatesProvokes mild anger
- aggravatesMakes more severe
- vexesCauses annoyance or distress
irks · annoys · bugs · nettles · riles · galls · gets to · rankles · chafes · needles
badgers
Striped burrowing mustelids
torments · bedevils · persecutes · besieges · bombards · dogs · pursues · stalks · shadows · importunes
begs
Asks humbly or desperately
wheedles · coaxes · solicits · demands · requests · petitions
henpecks
Nags a partner constantly
- nitpicksMinor, pedantic criticisms
- criticizesExpresses unfavorable judgment
- scoldsHarshly criticizes aloud
chides · berates · reproaches · urges · prods · pushes · cajoles · goads · presses · reminds
pestersignores
Refuses to acknowledge
leaves alone · avoids · neglects · disregards · shuns
- pester powerChildren's commercial pressure tactic