1
as in to worry
to thrust oneself upon (another) without invitation
I am never going to get this work done if people don't stop wandering into the room and bothering me
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to annoy
to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts
it bothers me when obviously sick people go to movies and spend the whole time coughing and sneezing
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to fret
to experience concern or anxiety
just get the basic concept right and don't bother about the details
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to disturb
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy
the boss's cryptic message about changes to the company bothered me
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in hurry
a state of noisy, confused activity
the whole household was in a bother, as our overnight guests were expected to arrive any minute
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in nuisance
one who is obnoxiously annoying
the woman next-door is such a bother—always dropping in at the most inopportune moments!
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in headache
something that is a source of irritation
returning damaged goods is a real bother
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in frustration
the feeling of impatience or anger caused by another's repeated disagreeable acts
never let his personal bothers interfere with his responsibilities at work
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bother
Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2025
Drake texted the players, telling them not to bother showing up.
—Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 July 2025
Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 6 Nov. 2024
This* is the first Fulham-specific piece the Athletic bothers to chuck out in ages.
—Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bother
Verb
Throughout the dramatic episode — which involved the islanders reading anonymous letters about how their fellow cast mates truly felt about them — many patrons talked among themselves and shouted at the TV, but no one seemed bothered.
—Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2025
Drake texted the players, telling them not to bother showing up.
—Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 July 2025
Noun
Post-match, Hansi Flick confirmed that the La Masia product is fine, and joked that 'Cu' is young enough to be able to have stitches with no real bother as a man the German's age might experience.
—Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 6 Nov. 2024
This* is the first Fulham-specific piece the Athletic bothers to chuck out in ages.
—Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bother
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bother
Verb
-
Mellinger now worries the department will not be able to meet its five-year goals for key performance indicators, which measure progress on the county’s biggest public health challenges.—
Marissa Meador,
IndyStar,
7 July 2025
-
When Test Track officially opens on July 22, guests will not have to worry about virtual queues.—
Megan duBois,
Southern Living,
7 July 2025
Verb
-
Perhaps Trump just wanted to annoy his counterparts, especially those on the continent.—
Yeo Boon Ping,
CNBC,
14 July 2025
-
But Cotton, annoyed by Hank’s indirectness and emotion, browbeats his son.—
Daniel Dockery,
Vulture,
7 July 2025
Verb
-
However, infrared videography can help record what’s going on on the beach without disturbing the turtles or crabs.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
10 July 2025
-
The first beaver to be released in this project was trapped at Arlington Wildlife Area along the Gila River after causing land management issues, like clogging pipes and disturbing irrigation infrastructure.—
John Leos,
AZCentral.com,
8 July 2025
Noun
-
Getting pulled over and receiving a ticket can put a damper on a road trip in a hurry.—
Will McGough,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
-
The slip-on design is ideal for getting through TSA in a hurry without worrying about tying your laces in the chaos of the airport, and they’re crafted with cushy foam insoles to enhance your comfort with every step.—
Merrell Readman,
Travel + Leisure,
8 July 2025
Noun
-
The city’s multidisciplinary public task force, established in August 2023, was formed to investigate businesses and properties that have public safety concerns and city ordinance violations like nuisances and municipal offenses.—
PJ Green
July 10,
Kansas City Star,
10 July 2025
-
There is also an AI consultant… who probably would have come in handy last season dealing with the artificial intelligence nuisances that were Ainsley and Jankie.—
Dalton Ross,
EW.com,
8 July 2025
Noun
-
Some headaches are related to muscle tension and can be triggered by stress.9 Hot showers or baths promote relaxation.—
Mark Gurarie,
Verywell Health,
9 July 2025
-
These can seem like a real headache for a sole trader who does not have an HR department to take care of all this for them.—
Peter Boolkah,
Forbes.com,
8 July 2025
Noun
-
Clark voiced her frustration that one of her teammates wasn’t spending enough time in the gym.—
Elise Devlin,
New York Times,
10 July 2025
-
Just ask Paige Spiranac, former LPGA hopeful turned golf influencer, who recently took it to X to voice her frustration.—
Devlina Sarkar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 July 2025
Verb
-
During the press tour, Pugh previously discussed pestering Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige in order to be able to jump off the second-tallest building in the world, at 2,227 feet and eclipsed only by the Burj Khalifa.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
28 Apr. 2025
-
The app will occasionally pester you to turn smart features back on, though.—
Ryan Whitwam,
ArsTechnica,
30 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bother.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bother. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share