Synonyms of badger

badger 1 of 2

verb

as in to tease

to subject (someone) to constant scoldings and sharp reminders

He's always badgering me about the dishes.

Related Words

• tease
• hound
• devil
• harass
• pester
• nag
• plague
• annoy
• harry
• bait
• bother
• worry
• egg
• irritate
• goad
• heckle
• urge
• ballyrag
• insist
• prod
• bullyrag
• incite
• spur
• push
• prompt
• anger
• hassle
• insult
• rouse
• upset
• pressure
• provoke
• infuriate
• antagonize
• hagride
• exhort
• press
• enrage
• distress
• inflame
• enflame
• rankle
• discomfort
• madden
• bug
• agitate
• incense
• perturb
• offend
• roil
• unsettle
• exercise
• undo
• discompose
• outrage
• unhinge
• affront
• disquiet
• persecute
• rile
• aggravate
• freak (out)
• spite
• vex
• fret
• frost
• itch
• gripe
• gall
• ruffle
• eat
• irk
• hack (off)
• exasperate
• put out
• burn (up)
• grate
• nettle
• miff
• rasp
• chafe
• nark
• pique
• peeve
• get

badger

2 of 2

noun

as in rabbit

the pelt or fur of a badger

The boutique features a variety of scarfs, including badger, fox, and ermine.

Related Words

• rabbit
• fox
• raccoon
• marten
• otter
• beaver
• sheep
• alligator
• crocodile
• mink
• fisher
• racoon
• seal
• muskrat
• chamois
• chinchilla
• ermine
• sable
• bearskin
• sheepskin
• karakul
• Persian lamb
• pigskin
• sealskin
• fleece
• deerskin
• goatskin
• rawhide
• coonskin
• snakeskin
• calfskin
• doeskin
• lambskin
• sharkskin
• horsehide
• kidskin
• leather
• buckskin
• cowhide
• pelt
• morocco
• kolinsky
• mouton
• patent leather
• suede
• hide
• fur
• skin
• cordovan

Synonym Chooser

How is the word badger distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of badger are bait, chivy, heckle, hector, and hound. While all these words mean "to harass by efforts to break down," badger implies pestering so as to drive a person to confusion or frenzy.

badgered her father for a car

When could bait be used to replace badger?

The words bait and badger are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, bait implies wanton cruelty or delight in persecuting a helpless victim.

baited the chained dog

When might chivy be a better fit than badger?

The words chivy and badger can be used in similar contexts, but chivy suggests persecution by teasing or nagging.

chivied the new student mercilessly

When is it sensible to use heckle instead of badger?

The synonyms heckle and badger are sometimes interchangeable, but heckle implies persistent annoying or belligerent interruptions of a speaker.

drunks heckled the stand-up comic

In what contexts can hector take the place of badger?

Although the words hector and badger have much in common, hector carries an implication of bullying and domineering.

football players hectored by their coach

When would hound be a good substitute for badger?

The meanings of hound and badger largely overlap; however, hound implies unrelenting pursuit and harassing.

hounded by creditors

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of badger

Verb

Each bears a name co-opted into the English language to characterize human violence as animalistic, and include a definition—to badger: to pester, to bother. —Emily Van Duyne july 24, Literary Hub, 24 July 2025

No doubt that White House aide Stephen Miller, incensed by the possibility that some hard-working immigrants might be left alone, cornered the president and badgered him into rescinding brief and limited restrictions in service to his goal of having immigration agents make 3,000 arrests per day. —New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 18 June 2025

Noun

Visitors can also look for antelope, mule deer, and badgers; harder to spot are coyotes. —Carrie Dennis, Travel + Leisure, 14 June 2025

The camera traps also picked up images of 17 other mammal species, ranging from caracal cats and porcupines to honey badgers and bushpigs, the family said. —Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 13 May 2025