Synonyms of bore

bore 1 of 3

verb (1)

ˈbȯr 

1

as in to drill

to make a hole or series of holes in

some woodpecker bored holes in our tree in the backyard

Synonyms & Similar Words

• drill
• pierce
• punch
• poke
• puncture
• hole
• perforate
• tap
• cut
• penetrate
• riddle
• prick
• hollow
• broach
• break
• gouge
• excavate
• split
• slit
• slash
• rupture
• groove
• prickle
• rend
• notch
• burrow (into)
• gash

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• fill
• patch
• seal
• plug

2

as in to push

to force one's way

with some effort, she bored through the throng of yelling protestors

Synonyms & Similar Words

• push
• squeeze
• bull
• elbow
• shove
• muscle
• shoulder
• press
• thrust
• jam
• crash
• jostle
• bulldoze
• ram

bore

2 of 3

verb (2)

as in to weary

to make weary and restless by being dull or monotonous

the professor's lifeless and unimaginative teaching style bored the students to death

Synonyms & Similar Words

• weary
• tire
• drain
• wear
• exhaust
• discourage
• put to sleep
• jade
• pall
• burn out
• fatigue
• wear out
• debilitate
• enervate
• dishearten
• wash out
• enfeeble
• disable
• tucker (out)
• deject
• demoralize
• fag
• dispirit
• do in

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• busy
• engage
• interest
• grip
• absorb
• excite
• stimulate
• strengthen
• fascinate
• entertain
• amuse
• attract
• intrigue
• activate
• enliven
• animate
• energize
• galvanize
• invigorate
• charm
• engross
• occupy
• involve
• busy
• monopolize
• enthrall
• beguile
• captivate
• vitalize
• stir
• immerse
• rouse
• hypnotize
• bewitch
• enchant
• mesmerize
• preoccupy
• allure
• rally
• pump up

bore

3 of 3

noun

as in yawn

someone or something boring

for once, the graduation speaker wasn't a real bore

Synonyms & Similar Words

• yawn
• drip
• drag
• snooze
• yawner
• snoozer
• dullsville
• droner
• downer
• nudnik
• pill
• bromide
• bummer

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• blast
• rush
• gas
• upper
• kick

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of bore

Verb

Featuring a sleek black column skirt and minimalist stilettos, the look, while pared-back, was far from boring thanks to a creamy sleeveless top with a voluminous feather-like hem. — Bianca Betancourt, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026

The face of it is teenagers who are rebellious, bored by school (often for good reason), and beyond parent control. — Kalman Hettleman, Washington Post, 12 Oct. 2026

Noun

That led to some scary moments for those in attendance at Arrowhead Stadium, but after the Colts picked up two first downs, Kansas City’s defense bore down around midfield and regained possession. — Kansas City Star, 21 Sep. 2026

Its creators expected coding and debugging effort to fall to less than one-fifth, and early use bore that out. — Boris Kontsevoi, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2026