tease suggests an attempt to break down one's resistance or rouse to wrath.
children teased the dog
Examples of pester in a Sentence
Leave me alone! Stop pestering me!
one resident pestered the condo board about every little thing
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The 31-year-old forward has brought a toughness and physicality the group needed by committing hard fouls (on and off the ball), pestering opponents and making things difficult for them.—Jovan Buha, The Athletic, 4 Jan. 2025 Well, a February study also by Isabelle Laumer and colleagues found that great apes like to tease, poke and pester each other too.—Ryan McRae, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 Dec. 2024 People can be forgetful, so consider sending follow-ups about the outstanding balance, but avoid pestering.—Allbusiness, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024 That summer before ninth grade, his older cousin had pestered him to try wrestling.—Jake Kring-Schreifels, TIME, 17 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for pester
Word History
Etymology
modification of Middle French empestrer to hobble, embarrass, from Vulgar Latin *impastoriare, from Latin in- + Late Latin pastoria tether — more at pastern
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