bugging

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Pronunciation: /ˈbʌɡɪŋ/

Bugging refers to someone overreacting or becoming overly anxious about something minor—essentially, “freaking out” unnecessarily.

Example Sentence(s):

“Chill out, you’re bugging over nothing.”
“Stop bugging—this isn’t as serious as you think.”

Origin: Evolved from the phrase to bug out, it gained popularity on social media in the mid-2010s as a casual way to describe overreaction.

Related Words:

  • freaking out
  • panicking
  • stressing

Usage: Informal—used in everyday conversation and online chats.

Popularity Level: Fairly common among Gen Z.

First Known Use: Mid-2010s.

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