BORE Synonyms: 128 Similar and Opposite Words

bore 1 of 3

verb (1)

ˈbȯr

Definition of bore

as in to drill

to make a hole or series of holes in some woodpecker bored holes in our tree in the backyard

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to push

to force one's way with some effort, she bored through the throng of yelling protestors

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

bore

3 of 3

noun

as in yawn

someone or something boring for once, the graduation speaker wasn't a real bore

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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 bore

Verb

Tegan & Sara’s painfully catchy tune for the 2014 movie relies on bouncing dance beats and repetition to bore its way straight into your brain. — Stephanie Ganz Published, Parents, 18 Oct. 2026 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

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 See All Example Sentences for bore

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bore

Verb

And in Honduras, Milexy Rodríguez lost 15 cows in 40 days when drought dried up her lagoon, rebuilding by drilling a well and diversifying.

— Lys Arango, Vogue, 8 Nov. 2026
Doncic used a screen from Kessler to loop around in a circle away from pressure, evading Portland star Deni Avdija in the process to drill a 3-pointer from atop the key to knot the game at 68.

— Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 7 Nov. 2026

Definition of drill

Verb

Concern is intensifying as artificial intelligence companies pursue trillion-dollar valuations, and established internet giants pour money into developing advanced AI models while pushing them into the classroom.

— Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 7 Nov. 2026
Far-right President Javier Milei's sweeping austerity measures, which have pushed millions of Argentines into poverty, could put him at odds with Leo, who has long championed the poor.

— Carrie Kahn, NPR, 7 Nov. 2026

Definition of push

Verb

But even at its most explicit, in documentaries, political cinema acts as an antidote to the culture’s wearying vogue for escapism.

— Matt Brennan, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026
But for two hours the film is just set-piece after set-piece, backed by a deafening score, which becomes rather wearying.

— The Week UK, TheWeek, 23 July 2026

Definition of weary

Noun

Lorelai’s relationship with Digger (Jason Stiles) was incredibly low-stakes, the drama with Richard’s company was a yawn, and Rory (bizarrely) didn’t make any new friends in her first year of college.

— Janey Tracey, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Oct. 2026
The reward challenge is an obstacle course (yawn), and the Yellow Tribe wins.

— Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of yawn

Verb

Accumulation of food debris observed on the piercing part of can opener.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 Nov. 2026
Bauer, who was working in uniform, was shot twice — with one of the bullets piercing his heart — during a robbery at Kislak National Bank, 13490 NW Seventh Ave.

— Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of pierce

Verb

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil artery between Iran and Oman, has sent oil and gas prices on the uptick, squeezing Americans at home.

— Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 2 Nov. 2026
Drain collard greens and squeeze gently to remove excess water.

— Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of squeeze

Verb

Others pride themselves on tiring out a defense with their rushing attack.

— Clark Fahrenthold, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Nov. 2026
The victim continues to experience symptoms from the poisoning, including not being able to focus, tiring easily and a loss of sensation in his left hand, Gomelsky said.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of tire

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“Bore.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bore. Accessed 14 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of bore

verb (1)

verb (2)

noun

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