badgered

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "badgered" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone is persistently and annoyingly asked or pressured to do something. Example: "She felt badgered by her friends to join the club, even though she wasn't interested."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

McGowan says she is badgered by voters to say if she's aligned to the left or right, but she refuses to be placed on the political spectrum.

The Guardian

"And so he badgered me and said, 'Oh, you better go and see him.

The Guardian

"Celebrities are badgered, they get too much attention.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

He badgered, bulldozed, hectored and harassed.

The Guardian

Now, however, he and the two Western governments that have come closest to tackling Mr Assad head on, France's and Britain's, may be badgered into thinking again.

The Economist

But Mr Obama is being badgered by fiercely pro-Israeli groups at home to look more kindly on the prospect of a pre-emptive Israeli attack.If engagement fails, the administration may use financial levers to squeeze Iran harder.

The Economist

Shareholders and boards badgered managers to build up their new-media divisions or buy into Internet start-ups.

The Economist

Having been badgered into appearing on the same stage as Mr Miliband, he survived the experience, apparently undamaged.

The Economist

And although the guidelines describe these tests as options, many pregnant women are feeling badgered.

The Economist

His determination to be published as a serious, and as it happens prize-winning, novelist rather than be constantly badgered as a pop hero has taken him into an elegant early old age: as virtually every woman in Brazil admits, he remains boyishly good-looking.Throughout all this runs another passion: football.

The Economist

They badgered courts to look at old law in fresh light.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "badgered", ensure the context clearly indicates persistent and annoying pressure. Consider the intensity of the pressure and whether a more or less forceful synonym might be more appropriate.

Common error

While "badgered" is widely understood, it can sound informal in professional or academic writing. Opt for more formal alternatives like "pressured" or "urged" when appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "badgered" is as the past tense and past participle of the verb "badger". It describes an action of persistently annoying or harassing someone. Ludwig AI indicates that this usage is correct and common.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

74%

Encyclopedias

6%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Science

4%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"Badgered", the past tense of "badger", signifies the act of persistently annoying or pressuring someone. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage. While versatile, it's important to consider formality, opting for alternatives like ""pressured"" in professional contexts. Its communicative purpose is to describe situations of relentless annoyance, fitting well within news media and general discourse. Examples show its widespread use, from political scenarios to personal interactions. To avoid misuse, be mindful of overusing it in excessively formal settings, where stronger alternatives might be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

pestered

Implies a milder, more repetitive annoyance compared to "badgered".

harassed

Suggests a more aggressive and potentially threatening form of pressure than "badgered".

hounded

Implies relentless pursuit and pressure, often in a public or media context, more intense than "badgered".

pressured

Indicates a general exertion of influence, which may be less annoying than "badgered".

nagged

Suggests persistent complaints or requests, often in a domestic setting, less formal than "badgered".

importuned

Implies repeated and persistent requests, often with a sense of urgency or desperation. More formal than "badgered".

plagued

Indicates a persistent trouble or annoyance, not necessarily involving direct interaction as "badgered" does.

tormented

Suggests extreme suffering and distress caused by persistent harassment, stronger than "badgered".

bullied

Implies intimidation and coercion, a more aggressive and power-imbalanced form of pressure than "badgered".

chivied

Means to harass with persistent petty demands, more trivial than "badgered".

FAQs

How can I use "badgered" in a sentence?

You can use "badgered" to describe someone who is persistently and annoyingly pressured or asked to do something. For example, "He was badgered into participating in the event".

What are some synonyms for "badgered"?

Alternatives to "badgered" include "pestered", "harassed", or "pressured", depending on the context.

Is "badgered" formal or informal?

"Badgered" is generally considered neutral to slightly informal. In very formal contexts, consider using a more elevated synonym like "urged" or "importuned".

What's the difference between "badgered" and "bullied"?

"Badgered" implies persistent annoyance or pressure, while "bullied" suggests intimidation and coercion, involving a power imbalance. "Bullied" is a more severe form of mistreatment.