If someone repeatedly asks, reminds, bothers, or pressures another person in an annoying way, the verb pester is often the right word. It usually describes repeated behavior that becomes irritating, such as asking the same question again and again or continuing to request something after being told to wait.
The best synonym depends on what you mean by pester. Words such as bother, annoy, nag, badger, harass, hassle, hound, press, urge, and importune overlap with pester, but they are not identical. Some are casual, some are formal, and others suggest stronger pressure or repeated unwanted behavior.
Quick Answer
Common synonyms for pester include bother, annoy, nag, badger, hassle, hound, harass, bug, press, urge, importune, and torment. The best choice depends on context. Nag often suggests repeated complaints or reminders, while badger and hound emphasize persistent pressure.
Quick List of Alternatives
Closest Alternatives
- Bother
- Annoy
- Nag
- Badger
- Hassle
- Hound
- Harass
- Bug
- Pester
- Press
Formal Alternatives
- Importune
- Press
- Solicit repeatedly
- Urge repeatedly
- Insist
- Persist
- Trouble
- Disturb
- Harass
- Make repeated requests
Neutral Alternatives
- Repeatedly ask
- Remind repeatedly
- Keep asking
- Press someone
- Persist with a request
- Continue requesting
- Seek someone’s attention repeatedly
Casual Alternatives
- Bug
- Hassle
- Bother
- Keep bugging
- Keep on someone
- Get on someone’s case
Formal Alternatives to Pester
Importune
Meaning: To ask someone repeatedly and persistently for something.
Explanation: Importune is one of the closest formal equivalents of pester. It emphasizes persistent requests and is much more formal and less common in everyday speech.
Example: The applicant continued to importune the manager for an immediate decision.
Best Use: Formal prose, literary writing, or situations where persistent requests are the focus.
Worst Use: Casual conversation, where it can sound unnecessarily sophisticated.
Tone: Formal and literary.
Press
Meaning: To put pressure on someone to do, answer, or provide something.
Explanation: Press can replace pester when repeated requests involve pressure. It does not always imply annoyance.
Example: The reporter pressed the official for a clear answer.
Best Use: Journalism, business, interviews, and professional communication.
Worst Use: Situations where the only meaning is simple annoyance.
Tone: Neutral to formal.
Persist
Meaning: To continue doing or asking something despite difficulty or resistance.
Explanation: Persist focuses on continuing rather than annoyance. Someone can persist politely, so it is not always a direct synonym.
Example: She persisted in asking for an explanation.
Best Use: Formal and neutral writing.
Worst Use: When you specifically want to show that the behavior was irritating.
Tone: Neutral and formal.
Insist
Meaning: To demand something firmly or say something must happen.
Explanation: Insist can overlap with pester when repeated demands are involved, but it suggests firmness rather than simple annoyance.
Example: The customer insisted on speaking with a supervisor.
Best Use: Professional, formal, and everyday communication.
Worst Use: When the person is merely asking repeatedly without making a demand.
Tone: Firm and neutral.
Harass
Meaning: To repeatedly trouble, disturb, or pressure someone, often in an unwanted way.
Explanation: Harass is stronger than pester. It can refer to serious unwanted behavior and may have legal or workplace implications depending on the circumstances.
Example: The company warned employees not to harass customers with repeated calls.
Best Use: Serious situations involving persistent unwanted conduct.
Worst Use: Minor everyday annoyance, where the word may exaggerate the situation.
Tone: Strong and serious.
Solicit Repeatedly
Meaning: To make repeated requests for something.
Explanation: This phrase is more precise than pester when someone repeatedly asks for money, support, information, business, or another specific response.
Example: The organization continued to solicit donations from local businesses.
Best Use: Business, fundraising, marketing, and formal writing.
Worst Use: Casual conversations.
Tone: Formal and specific.
Trouble
Meaning: To cause inconvenience, concern, or disturbance.
Explanation: Trouble can replace pester when someone is causing inconvenience, but it does not necessarily involve repeated requests.
Example: I am sorry to trouble you with another question.
Best Use: Polite formal communication.
Worst Use: When persistent annoyance is the central idea.
Tone: Polite and formal.
Disturb
Meaning: To interrupt, inconvenience, or interfere with someone’s peace or activity.
Explanation: Disturb focuses on interruption rather than repeated pressure.
Example: Please do not disturb the staff while they are working.
Best Use: Notices, professional settings, and formal communication.
Worst Use: When someone repeatedly demands an answer.
Tone: Neutral and formal.
Urge
Meaning: To strongly encourage someone to do something.
Explanation: Urge is not an exact synonym because it can be positive and respectful. It works when pester means repeatedly encouraging someone.
Example: The teacher urged students to submit their assignments on time.
Best Use: Advice, encouragement, professional communication, and persuasive writing.
Worst Use: When you need to express irritation.
Tone: Neutral and purposeful.
Make Repeated Requests
Meaning: To ask for something more than once.
Explanation: This is a clear descriptive alternative. It removes the negative feeling that pester often carries.
Example: The customer made repeated requests for a refund.
Best Use: Reports, workplace documentation, and factual writing.
Worst Use: Casual conversation, where a shorter verb would usually sound more natural.
Tone: Neutral and objective.
Semi-Formal and Neutral Alternatives
Bother
Meaning: To annoy, inconvenience, or interrupt someone.
Explanation: Bother is one of the most flexible alternatives to pester. It can describe one interruption or repeated annoyance, so it is broader.
Example: He kept bothering me with questions during the meeting.
Best Use: Everyday writing and conversation.
Worst Use: Highly formal reports where more precise wording is needed.
Tone: Neutral and conversational.
Annoy
Meaning: To make someone feel irritated.
Explanation: Annoy focuses on the effect on the person rather than the repeated behavior itself.
Example: The constant notifications began to annoy her.
Best Use: General writing and conversation.
Worst Use: When you need to emphasize repeated requests specifically.
Tone: Neutral.
Nag
Meaning: To repeatedly complain, remind, or ask someone to do something.
Explanation: Nag is a close synonym when repetition is central. It often suggests criticism, reminders, or requests that become irritating.
Example: My brother keeps nagging me to clean my room.
Best Use: Everyday conversation and informal writing.
Worst Use: Formal reports or sensitive professional communication.
Tone: Informal and sometimes negative.
Badger
Meaning: To repeatedly ask or pressure someone until they respond or agree.
Explanation: Badger strongly suggests persistence. It often carries a stronger sense of pressure than pester.
Example: The children badgered their parents for permission to go outside.
Best Use: Narrative writing, journalism, and everyday English.
Worst Use: Polite professional communication.
Tone: Strong and somewhat negative.
Hassle
Meaning: To bother, inconvenience, or create difficulty for someone.
Explanation: Hassle can describe annoying someone, but it can also mean creating unnecessary difficulty.
Example: I do not want to hassle you while you are busy.
Best Use: Casual and conversational English.
Worst Use: Academic or highly formal writing.
Tone: Casual.
Hound
Meaning: To pursue someone persistently with questions, requests, or demands.
Explanation: Hound is stronger and more vivid than pester. It suggests that someone will not stop pursuing another person.
Example: Reporters hounded the actor for a statement.
Best Use: Journalism and vivid narrative writing.
Worst Use: Polite workplace messages.
Tone: Strong and vivid.
Press Someone
Meaning: To put pressure on someone for an answer, decision, or action.
Explanation: Press is useful when the person is not merely asking but applying pressure.
Example: The manager pressed the supplier for a delivery date.
Best Use: Business, journalism, interviews, and professional writing.
Worst Use: Friendly requests where no pressure is intended.
Tone: Neutral to firm.
Persist With a Request
Meaning: To continue asking despite not receiving the desired response.
Explanation: This is more neutral than pester because it describes the behavior without automatically calling it annoying.
Example: She persisted with her request until the issue was resolved.
Best Use: Formal and neutral writing.
Worst Use: Casual speech, where it may sound slightly stiff.
Tone: Neutral.
Keep Asking
Meaning: To ask the same or related question repeatedly.
Explanation: This simple phrase is often more natural than pester when repetition is the main point.
Example: He kept asking when the results would be available.
Best Use: Everyday conversation and simple writing.
Worst Use: Formal documentation requiring precise terminology.
Tone: Neutral and conversational.
Informal and Casual Alternatives
Bug
Meaning: To annoy someone, especially by repeatedly asking or interrupting.
Example: Stop bugging me while I am studying.
When it sounds natural: Casual conversations with friends, family, or people you know well.
When to avoid it: Professional emails, academic writing, and formal documents.
Tone: Very casual.
Keep Bugging
Meaning: To continue annoying someone repeatedly.
Example: My little brother kept bugging me about the game.
When it sounds natural: Informal speech and storytelling.
When to avoid it: Formal communication.
Tone: Casual and mildly annoyed.
Get on Someone’s Case
Meaning: To repeatedly criticize, remind, or pressure someone.
Example: My parents are always getting on my case about homework.
When it sounds natural: Casual conversation.
When to avoid it: Business, academic, and professional settings.
Tone: Informal.
Keep on Someone
Meaning: To repeatedly remind or pressure someone to do something.
Example: She kept on me about finishing the report.
When it sounds natural: Informal conversation.
When to avoid it: Formal writing.
Tone: Casual.
Hassle
Meaning: To bother or inconvenience someone.
Example: Sorry to hassle you, but could you check this again?
When it sounds natural: Friendly conversation and casual messages.
When to avoid it: Formal correspondence.
Tone: Casual and relatively mild.
True Synonyms vs. Contextual Alternatives
Not every word listed above can replace pester in every sentence. The difference usually comes from repetition, pressure, annoyance, seriousness, or tone.
| Type | What It Means | Can It Replace the Original? |
|---|---|---|
| True synonym | Has nearly the same core meaning | Usually, depending on context |
| Near synonym | Shares much of the meaning but adds a different nuance | Sometimes |
| Contextual alternative | Works in a particular situation | Only in that context |
| Broader expression | Covers a wider idea than pester | Sometimes |
| Narrower expression | Describes one specific type of pestering | Only in specific situations |
For example, nag is useful when someone repeatedly reminds or complains. Badger emphasizes persistent pressure. annoy describes the emotional effect rather than the repeated action. harass is substantially stronger and may refer to serious unwanted conduct.
Business Writing
In business writing, pester can sound informal or judgmental. More neutral choices include follow up repeatedly, press for an answer, make repeated requests, persist with a request, or seek a response.
Example
Instead of:
The client kept pestering us for an update.
A neutral business version is:
The client followed up several times for an update.
If pressure is important:
The client repeatedly pressed the team for an update.
The second version communicates persistence without automatically describing the client as annoying.
Corporate Communication
Corporate communication usually benefits from factual language. Instead of labeling someone as a pest, describe the actual behavior.
Example
Less neutral:
The employee kept pestering the department.
More objective:
The employee submitted several requests to the department regarding the same issue.
This approach is especially useful in reports, internal records, and workplace documentation.
Academic Writing
Academic writing usually avoids conversational words such as bug, hassle, and pester unless the word appears in a quotation or is part of the subject being analyzed.
Useful alternatives include:
- Repeatedly request
- Persist
- Apply pressure
- Make repeated inquiries
- Seek repeated clarification
- Repeatedly contact
Example
Informal:
Students kept pestering the instructor for the results.
Academic:
Students repeatedly contacted the instructor regarding the results.
The second sentence is more objective and avoids assuming that the students’ behavior was annoying.
Customer Service
Customer-service communication should normally avoid describing a customer as someone who is pestering staff.
Instead, use neutral descriptions such as:
- Followed up several times
- Contacted us repeatedly
- Requested an update
- Made several inquiries
- Asked for further clarification
Example
Instead of:
The customer keeps pestering us about the order.
Use:
The customer has contacted us several times regarding the order.
This describes the situation without unnecessarily assigning a negative judgment.
Legal Writing
Legal writing requires particular care because pester, bother, annoy, harass, threaten, and similar terms can have different meanings depending on the facts and jurisdiction.
For factual documentation, it is often better to describe exactly what happened:
The individual contacted the recipient repeatedly over a three-day period.
This is more precise than simply saying:
The individual pestered the recipient.
The word harass can carry a much more serious meaning than pester, so it should not be substituted casually. Where legal consequences matter, terminology should be checked against the relevant jurisdiction and legal context.
Email Communication
Professional emails usually benefit from neutral wording. Instead of saying someone is pestering you, consider:
- Following up
- Checking in
- Requesting an update
- Seeking clarification
- Following up again
- Pressing for a response
Example
I am following up on my previous message regarding the project timeline.
This is usually more professional than:
I am pestering you again about the project timeline.
Email Examples
Client Follow-Up
Subject: Follow-Up on Project Timeline
Hello Maria,
I am following up on my previous message regarding the project timeline. When you have a moment, could you please confirm whether the proposed schedule still works for your team?
Thank you,
Daniel
Request for a Decision
Subject: Request for a Final Decision
Hello James,
I wanted to follow up once more regarding the proposal. We need to finalize the schedule this week, so I would appreciate your decision when convenient.
Best,
Aisha
Vendor Update
Subject: Delivery Status Update
Hello Mark,
I am checking in regarding the outstanding shipment. Could you please let us know whether the revised delivery date has been confirmed?
Regards,
Sam
Internal Workplace Email
Subject: Outstanding Report
Hi Team,
I am following up on the report requested last week. Please send your sections by Thursday so we can complete the final version on schedule.
Thanks,
Nina
Academic Email
Subject: Follow-Up Regarding Assignment Feedback
Dear Professor Lee,
I am writing to follow up regarding the feedback on my assignment. I understand you may be busy, but I would appreciate an update when you have time.
Best regards,
Alex
Short Dialogue Examples
Workplace
Person A: I have followed up twice, but I still have not received the figures.
Person B: Give them another day before pressing them for a response.
Classroom
Person A: Tom keeps nagging me to help with his project.
Person B: You should tell him when you are available instead of letting him keep asking.
Customer Service
Person A: The customer has contacted us several times today.
Person B: Let’s give them a clear update so they know what is happening.
Casual Conversation
Person A: Stop bugging me about the movie.
Person B: Fine, I’ll wait until you decide.
Professional Discussion
Person A: The reporter kept pressing the spokesperson for an answer.
Person B: That is understandable, but the spokesperson said the information was not available yet.
How to Replace “Pester” in a Sentence
Example 1
Original:
The children pestered their parents for a new toy.
Alternative:
The children nagged their parents for a new toy.
Why it works:
Nagged emphasizes repeated requests and sounds natural in this family context.
Example 2
Original:
The reporter pestered the official for an answer.
Alternative:
The reporter pressed the official for an answer.
Why it works:
Pressed focuses on applying pressure for a response and suits journalism.
Example 3
Original:
He kept pestering me about the deadline.
Alternative:
He kept bothering me about the deadline.
Why it works:
Bothering is natural in everyday conversation and preserves the sense of annoyance.
Example 4
Original:
The children pestered their father until he agreed.
Alternative:
The children badgered their father until he agreed.
Why it works:
Badgered strongly suggests persistent pressure.
Example 5
Original:
The customer pestered the company for a refund.
Alternative:
The customer repeatedly requested a refund.
Why it works:
The alternative is more objective and appropriate for business documentation.
Example 6
Original:
Stop pestering me with questions.
Alternative:
Please stop asking me the same questions repeatedly.
Why it works:
The alternative explains the exact behavior and is less emotionally loaded.
Example 7
Original:
The manager pestered the supplier for an update.
Alternative:
The manager pressed the supplier for an update.
Why it works:
Pressed communicates urgency and pressure without sounding as casual as pestered.
Example 8
Original:
She kept pestering him to call her back.
Alternative:
She kept asking him to call her back.
Why it works:
This simple construction is clear and neutral when repetition is the important detail.
Comparison of Useful Alternatives
| Phrase | Tone | Meaning / Scope | Best Use | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pester | Informal/neutral | Repeatedly annoy or request | Everyday situations | They pestered him for an answer. |
| Bother | Neutral | Annoy or inconvenience | General conversation | She kept bothering me. |
| Annoy | Neutral | Cause irritation | General writing | The noise annoyed him. |
| Nag | Informal | Repeated reminders or complaints | Family and casual settings | She nagged him to study. |
| Badger | Strong | Persistent pressure | Narrative and journalism | They badgered her for details. |
| Hassle | Casual | Bother or inconvenience | Informal speech | I do not want to hassle you. |
| Hound | Strong | Pursue persistently | Journalism and storytelling | Reporters hounded the actor. |
| Harass | Serious | Repeated unwanted conduct | Serious or formal contexts | The company prohibited harassment. |
| Press | Neutral/formal | Apply pressure for action or answer | Business and journalism | They pressed him for details. |
| Persist | Formal/neutral | Continue despite resistance | Formal writing | She persisted with her request. |
| Importune | Formal | Repeatedly request | Literary/formal prose | He importuned the officials. |
| Bug | Very casual | Annoy repeatedly | Friendly conversation | Stop bugging me. |
Which Alternative Should You Choose?
For Formal Writing
Use persist, press, importune, make repeated requests, or repeatedly request when the context calls for objective language.
For Business Communication
Use follow up, request an update, press for a response, or make several inquiries.
For Academic Writing
Prefer repeatedly request, repeatedly contact, persist, or make repeated inquiries.
For Legal Writing
Describe the actual conduct whenever precision matters. Avoid replacing pester with harass unless the stronger term is supported by the relevant facts and legal context.
For Professional Email
Follow up and check in are often more polite than pester.
For Everyday Conversation
Bother, annoy, nag, bug, and keep asking are natural choices depending on the situation.
For Casual Messages
Bug, hassle, nag, and keep bugging can work when speaking with friends or family.
Grammar and Usage Guide
The Pester as a Verb
Pester is normally used as a transitive verb, meaning it usually takes an object.
The children pestered their mother.
He kept pestering me.
Pester Someone With Something
The pattern pester someone with something is possible when repeated questions, requests, or other interruptions are involved.
She pestered him with questions.
Pester Someone for Something
Use pester someone for something when a person repeatedly asks for something.
They pestered the manager for an answer.
Pester Someone to Do Something
Use pester someone to do something when repeated requests concern an action.
He pestered his brother to lend him the car.
Pester vs. Pestering
Pester is the base verb.
Don’t pester me.
Pestering is the present participle or gerund.
Her constant pestering became frustrating.
Pestered
Pestered is the simple past form.
The children pestered their father all afternoon.
Pester Does Not Always Mean Harass
This distinction matters. Pester commonly describes irritating persistence, while harass can describe serious and unwanted conduct. They should not automatically be treated as interchangeable.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Treating Every Alternative as an Exact Synonym
Words such as nag, press, and harass have additional meanings. Choose according to the behavior you actually want to describe.
Using “Harass” for Minor Annoyance
Calling a few repeated questions harassment can make the situation sound much more serious than intended.
Using Casual Words in Formal Writing
Words such as bug and get on someone’s case usually do not belong in academic papers or formal business reports.
Ignoring the Difference Between Action and Effect
Pester describes persistent behavior. Annoy focuses more directly on the effect that behavior has on someone.
Using “Nag” for Every Repeated Request
Nag often suggests criticism, complaints, or reminders. It may not fit a neutral repeated request.
Overusing “Press”
Press suggests pressure. If someone is simply checking on a request politely, follow up may be more accurate.
Confusing “Persist” With “Pester”
A person can persist without being annoying. Persist is therefore more neutral.
Choosing a Word Without Considering the Audience
A phrase that sounds natural between friends may sound inappropriate in a client email.
When Not to Use “Pester”
When You Need Neutral Documentation
If you are recording workplace events, describe what happened instead of labeling someone’s behavior.
The customer contacted the support team five times.
This is more precise than:
The customer pestered the support team.
When the Person Is Simply Following Up
If someone sends a polite reminder, follow up is usually more accurate than pester.
When the Behavior Is More Serious
If the conduct involves threats, intimidation, discrimination, stalking, or another serious form of unwanted behavior, pester may understate the situation. Use precise factual descriptions and, where relevant, established legal terminology.
When the Tone Needs to Be Respectful
In professional communication, pester can sound judgmental. A neutral phrase such as request an update may communicate the same basic situation more respectfully.
When the Person Is Encouraging Rather Than Annoying
If someone is helping another person take action, encourage or urge may be more accurate.
When “Pester” Is Actually the Better Choice
Use pester when you intentionally want to communicate repeated, unwanted, irritating requests or interruptions in a relatively informal way.
The kids kept pestering their parents for ice cream.
Here, pester sounds natural because the sentence focuses on persistent childhood requests.
Advanced Writer Tips
Tone Control
To make the wording more formal, replace pester with persist, repeatedly request, or make repeated inquiries.
For a neutral tone, use follow up, continue asking, or request an update.
For a casual tone, use bug, nag, or keep bothering.
Professional Email Etiquette
Avoid telling a recipient that they are being pestered. Instead, describe your own action politely:
I am following up on my previous email.
This sounds more professional than:
I am pestering you again about this.
Politeness
Small word choices can change the emotional tone of a sentence.
Please stop pestering me.
is direct and potentially irritated.
Could we return to this discussion later?
is softer and more diplomatic.
Context Alignment
Ask what the person is actually doing. Are they asking repeatedly? Applying pressure? Complaining? Interrupting? Seeking an update? The answer determines the most accurate replacement.
Precision
Choose nag for repeated reminders, press for pressure, badger for persistent demands, annoy for the resulting irritation, and follow up for professional repeated contact.
Readability
Sometimes the clearest replacement is not another single word.
Instead of:
The client pestered us for information.
write:
The client contacted us several times for information.
The second sentence is longer, but it tells the reader exactly what happened without adding an unnecessary judgment.
Related Questions
What Is Another Way to Say “Pester”?
Common alternatives include bother, annoy, nag, badger, hassle, hound, bug, and press. The right option depends on whether you want to emphasize annoyance, repetition, pressure, or informality.
What Is a Professional Alternative to “Pester”?
In professional writing, use phrases such as follow up, request an update, make a further inquiry, seek a response, or press for an answer. These usually sound more neutral than pester.
What Is a Formal Alternative to “Pester”?
Importune is a formal alternative when someone repeatedly requests something. Persist, press, and make repeated requests are also useful depending on the context.
Is “Pester” Formal?
No. Pester is a common everyday verb with a neutral-to-informal feel. It is perfectly normal in conversation and general writing but may sound too judgmental or conversational in formal documentation.
Can “Nag” Replace “Pester”?
Sometimes. Nag works particularly well when someone repeatedly reminds, complains, or asks another person to do something. It does not fit every use of pester.
What Is the Difference Between “Pester” and “Badger”?
Both describe persistent behavior, but badger often suggests stronger pressure and determination. Pester is broader and can describe repeated annoying requests without the same level of force.
What Is the Difference Between “Pester” and “Harass”?
Pester usually describes irritating persistence in everyday situations. Harass is stronger and can refer to serious unwanted conduct. Because of this difference, they should not be treated as interchangeable in sensitive or formal contexts.
FAQs
What is the closest synonym for pester?
Bother, annoy, nag, and badger are among the closest alternatives. The best choice depends on the exact meaning. Nag emphasizes repeated reminders, while badger suggests persistent pressure.
Is “pester” a negative word?
Usually, yes. It commonly suggests that repeated requests or interruptions are unwanted or irritating. However, the level of negativity is usually milder than words such as harass.
Is “pester” the same as “annoy”?
Not exactly. Pester describes persistent behavior that may cause irritation, while annoy focuses more directly on the feeling or effect. A person can annoy someone without repeatedly pestering them.
Is “badger” stronger than “pester”?
Often, yes. Badger commonly suggests determined and persistent pressure. Pester can describe similar behavior but is generally broader and less forceful.
Can “follow up” replace “pester”?
In professional communication, it often can when the intended meaning is simply to contact someone again for an update. Follow up is neutral, while pester suggests that the repeated contact is irritating.
What is a polite way to say “stop pestering me”?
Depending on the situation, you could say “Could we discuss this later?”, “Please give me some time to respond,” or “I will get back to you when I have an answer.”
What is the opposite of pester?
Possible opposites include leave alone, respect someone’s space, stop asking, give someone time, and avoid disturbing someone. The exact opposite depends on the sentence.
Key Takeaways
- Pester means to repeatedly bother, ask, or pressure someone in an irritating way.
- Nag is useful for repeated reminders, complaints, or requests.
- Badger and hound suggest stronger persistence or pressure.
- Follow up, request an update, and make repeated inquiries are more neutral for professional writing.
- Do not automatically replace pester with harass, because harass can carry a much more serious meaning.
Conclusion
Choosing the right alternative to pester depends on more than finding another word with a similar dictionary definition. The key question is what kind of repeated behavior you want to describe. If someone keeps asking in an irritating way, pester or nag may work. The person is applying stronger pressure, badger or press may be more precise. If you are describing serious unwanted conduct, harass may be relevant, but it should not be used casually.
For professional and academic writing, neutral expressions such as follow up, repeatedly request, make an inquiry, seek a response, or press for an answer can communicate the situation more objectively. In casual conversation, bother, bug, hassle, and keep asking sound more natural. Always consider your audience, tone, and intended meaning before choosing a replacement.