Definition

1. Noun:

   • A sturdy carnivorous burrowing mammal with strong claws: A nocturnal mammal of the weasel family, known for its distinctive black-and-white striped face and powerful digging abilities. It is widely distributed in the Northern Hemisphere.
   • A native or resident of Wisconsin: An informal term for a person from the U.S. state of Wisconsin, which is nicknamed "The Badger State."

2. Verb:

   • To pester or annoy persistently: To repeatedly and persistently bother, harass, or nag someone.
   • To persuade through constant efforts: To repeatedly ask or pressure someone until they agree or give in.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Animal):
  • The badger emerged from its sett at dusk to forage.
  • We saw badger tracks in the soft earth near the woods.
• Noun (Person from Wisconsin):
  • As a proud badger, she always cheered for the University of Wisconsin.
• Verb:
  • The children would badger their mother for ice cream every afternoon.
  • Reporters badgered the official with questions about the scandal.

Advanced Usage

• "To badger someone into doing something": To persistently pressure someone until they do a specific thing.
  • He finally badgered his friend into lending him the car.
• "To badger someone with questions": To harass someone by asking many questions repeatedly.
  • The lawyer badgered the witness with rapid-fire questions.

Variants and Related Words

• Badgering (n/gerund): The act of pestering someone persistently.
  • The constant badgering finally wore him down.
• Badger-baiting (n): A now-illegal blood sport where dogs were set upon a badger. (Note: This is a compound term listed here as a related concept, not as a definition of "badger" itself).

Synonyms

• Verb: Pester, harass, hound, nag, plague, bother, annoy.
• Noun (Animal): (No direct common synonym; it is a specific animal name).

Related Phrasal Verbs/Constructions

• Badger away at: To work persistently or nag continuously at something.
  • She badgered away at the problem until she found a solution.

Related Idioms

• "As tenacious as a badger": Extremely persistent and determined, much like the animal's nature.
  • In negotiations, he was as tenacious as a badger.

Noun

1. sturdy carnivorous burrowing mammal with strong claws; widely distributed in the northern hemisphere
2. a native or resident of Wisconsin

Verb

1. persuade through constant efforts
2. annoy persistently
   • The children teased the boy because of his stammer