Bug — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈbəg/

Meaning & Definition of Bug

Bug (noun)

  1. any of an order (Hemiptera and especially its suborder Heteroptera) of insects (such as an assassin bug or chinch bug) that have sucking mouthparts, forewings thickened at the base, and incomplete metamorphosis and are often economic pests —called also true bug
  2. any of various small arthropods (such as a beetle or spider) resembling the true bugs
  3. any of several insects (such as a head louse) commonly considered obnoxious
  4. bogey, bugbear

Bug (verb)

  1. bother, annoy
  2. to plant a concealed microphone in
  3. to lose one's composure, freak —often used with out
  4. protrude, bulge —often used with out
  5. to cause to bug

Bug (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a person with a strong and habitual liking for something

    "a camera bug who loves taking candid shots at fairs and festivals"

    similar: addict, aficionado, buff, devotee, enthusiast, fan, fanatic, fancier, fiend, fool, freak, habitué, head, hound, junkie, lover, maniac (informal), maven, nut, sucker
    related: groupie, admirer, amateur, collector, connoisseur, dilettante, authority, expert, adherent, convert, cultist, disciple, follower, hanger-on, votary, advocate, apostle, backer, champion, evangelist, exponent, friend, patron, promoter, proponent, supporter, partisan, zealot, booster, rooter, well-wisher, faddist
    opposite: nonfan
    near: nonadmirer, belittler, carper, critic, detractor

  2. an abnormal state that disrupts a plant's or animal's normal bodily functioning

    "I can't go to work today because I've caught some bug that's going around"

    similar: affection, ail, ailment, complaint, complication, condition, disease, disorder, distemper, distemperature, fever, ill, illness, infirmity, malady, sickness, trouble
    related: contagion, contagious disease, contagium, infection, attack, bout, fit, spell, debility, decrepitude, feebleness, frailness, lameness, sickliness, unhealthiness, unsoundness, unwellness, weakness, malaise, matter, pip, epidemic, pest, pestilence, plague
    opposite: health, wellness
    near: fitness, healthiness, heartiness, robustness, soundness, wholeness, wholesomeness, fettle, shape

Bug (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts

    "these incessant phone calls are really starting to bug me"

    similar: aggravate, annoy, bother, burn (up), chafe, eat, exasperate, frost, gall, get, grate, gripe, hack (off), irk, irritate, itch, nark (British), nettle, peeve, persecute, pique, put out, rasp, rile, ruffle, spite, vex, get one's goat, get on one's nerves, get to, rub the wrong way, set one's teeth on edge, stick in one's craw, wear on
    related: hassle, heckle, nag, inflame, provoke, rouse, badger, bait, bullyrag, devil, hagride, harass, harry, pester, plague, tease, anger, antagonize, enrage, incense, infuriate, madden, rankle, roil, agitate, discomfort, discompose, disquiet, distress, exercise, freak (out), fret, perturb, undo, unhinge, unsettle, upset, worry, affront, insult, miff, offend, outrage
    near: appease, conciliate, mollify, oblige, pacify, placate, propitiate, delight, gladden, gratify, please, satisfy, assure, cheer, comfort, console, content, quiet, reassure, solace, soothe

  2. to thrust oneself upon (another) without invitation

    "I hate to bug you, but could you help me move this table?"

    similar: bother, chivy, disturb, intrude (upon), pester
    related: inconvenience, trouble, aggravate, annoy, bedevil, chafe, devil, dog, dun, exasperate, fret, gall, get, gnaw, grate, hassle, irk, irritate, nettle, peeve, persecute, pique, put out, rankle, rasp, rile, roil, torment, vex, worry, beleaguer, beset, besiege, distress, plague, afflict, harass, provoke, anger, antagonize, enrage, incense, inflame, infuriate, madden, outrage, agitate, perturb, butt in, cut in (on), obtrude, encroach, infringe, invade, trespass
    near: disregard, forget, ignore, leave, slight, appease, conciliate, disarm, mollify, oblige, placate, delight, gladden, gratify, please, satisfy, comfort, console, content

Related Entry: Bug off (verb)

Bug off is a different word from Bug. The synonyms below are for bug off, not for bug.

  1. to leave a place often for another

    "I wish you would just bug off and leave me alone"

    similar: bail, bail out, begone, book (slang), bug out, bugger off (British slang), buzz (off), clear off (chiefly British), clear out, cut out, depart, dig out, exit, get, get off, go, go off, move, pack (up or off), part, peel off, pike (out or off), pull out, push off, push on, quit, run along, sally (forth), scarper (British), shove (off), step (along), take off, vamoose, walk out, beat it, hit the road, pull stakes, take a hike, take a powder
    related: set out, start, strike out, abscond, decamp, escape, evacuate, flee, fly, get out, mizzle (chiefly British), run away, scat, scram, skip, go out, light out, step out, abandon, desert, forsake, vacate, emigrate, adjourn, remove, retire, retreat, withdraw
    opposite: arrive, come, show up, turn up
    near: abide, dwell, lodge, remain, settle, stay, tarry, approach, close, near, hit, land, reach

Related Entry: Bug out (verb)

Bug out is a different word from Bug. The synonyms below are for bug out, not for bug.

  1. to hasten away from something dangerous or frightening

    "the ground soldiers bugged out just before the start of the aerial bombing"

    similar: bolt, break, flee, fly, hightail (it), retreat, run, run away, run off, skedaddle, beat a retreat, beat it, make tracks, turn tail
    related: abscond, clear out, decamp, elope, escape, get (away), get out, lam, light out, make off, mizzle (chiefly British), scarper (British), scat, scram, skip (out), skirr
    near: beard, brave, confront, dare, defy, face, abide, dwell, hang around, linger, remain, stay, stick around, tarry

  2. to leave a place often for another

    "the strange visitor bugged out without so much as saying a word"

    similar: bail, bail out, begone, book (slang), bug off, bugger off (British slang), buzz (off), clear off (chiefly British), clear out, cut out, depart, dig out, exit, get, get off, go, go off, move, pack (up or off), part, peel off, pike (out or off), pull out, push off, push on, quit, run along, sally (forth), scarper (British), shove (off), step (along), take off, vamoose, walk out, beat it, hit the road, pull stakes, take a hike, take a powder
    related: set out, start, strike out, abscond, decamp, escape, evacuate, flee, fly, get out, mizzle (chiefly British), run away, scat, scram, skip, go out, light out, step out, abandon, desert, forsake, vacate, emigrate, adjourn, remove, retire, retreat, withdraw
    opposite: arrive, come, show up, turn up
    near: abide, dwell, lodge, remain, settle, stay, tarry, approach, close, near, hit, land, reach

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Bug

The most common words with a similar meaning to Bug:

Informal: maniac
British: nark
addict, aficionado, buff, devotee, enthusiast, fan, fanatic, fancier, fiend, fool, freak, habitué, head, hound, junkie, lover, maven, nut, sucker, affection, ail, ailment, complaint, complication, condition, disease, disorder, distemper, distemperature, fever, ill, illness, infirmity, malady, sickness, trouble, aggravate, annoy, bother, burn (up)

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Bug

Words with the opposite meaning of Bug:

nonfan, health, wellness

Related Words for Bug

groupie, admirer, amateur, collector, connoisseur, dilettante, authority, expert, adherent, convert, cultist, disciple, follower, hanger-on, votary, advocate, apostle, backer, champion, evangelist, exponent, friend, patron, promoter, proponent, supporter, partisan, zealot, booster, rooter

Near Antonyms of Bug

nonadmirer, belittler, carper, critic, detractor, fitness, healthiness, heartiness, robustness, soundness, wholeness, wholesomeness, fettle, shape, appease, conciliate, mollify, oblige, pacify, placate, propitiate, delight, gladden, gratify, please, satisfy, assure, cheer, comfort, console

Word Forms of Bug

Inflections: bugs, bugged, bugging

Origin & Etymology of Bug

origin unknown

First known use: 1594

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Bug

Words & Phrases Containing Bug

bug-eyed, bug off, bug out, bug-out bag, anti-bug

Frequently Asked Questions about Bug

What does "Bug" mean?

"Bug" means any of an order (Hemiptera and especially its suborder Heteroptera) of insects (such as an assassin bug or chinch bug) that have sucking mouthparts, forewings thickened at the base, and incomplete metamorphosis and are often economic pests —called also true bug. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: any of an order (Hemiptera and especially its suborder Heteroptera) of insects (such as an assassin bug or chinch bug) that have sucking mouthparts, forewings thickened at the base, and incomplete metamorphosis and are often economic pests —called also true bug. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Bug"?

Other words for "Bug" include addict, aficionado, buff, devotee, enthusiast, fan, fanatic and fancier. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Bug" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Bug"?

There are 190 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Bug". Common alternatives include addict, aficionado, buff, devotee, enthusiast, fan, fanatic, fancier, fiend and fool.

What is the opposite of "Bug"?

Antonyms of "Bug" include nonfan, health and wellness. Near antonyms include nonadmirer, belittler, carper and critic.

How do you use "Bug" in a sentence?

Examples of "Bug" in a sentence: "a camera bug who loves taking candid shots at fairs and festivals"; "I can't go to work today because I've caught some bug that's going around"; "these incessant phone calls are really starting to bug me".

Is "Bug" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Bug" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Bug" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Bug" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Bug"?

"Bug" is pronounced /ˈbəg/.