bore 1 of 3

verb (1)

ˈbȯr How to pronounce bore (audio)
Definition of borenext
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to push
to force one's way with some effort, she bored through the throng of yelling protestors

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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

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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
Barbara Groom was in her late 30s, working as a successful pharmacist and bored out of her mind. — Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026 Downtime is important, as well as allowing kids to be bored from time to time. — Melissa Willets, Parents, 29 June 2026
Noun
These photos, too, bore traces of Surrealism, as evidenced by his portrait series of Magritte, whose iconicity reflects that of the artist himself. — News Desk, Artforum, 12 June 2026 Cabbage loopers feed on leaf undersides, creating windowpane patterns, while later larval stages chew holes or bore into cabbage heads, causing stunted growth or failure to form a head. — Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 10 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for bore
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bore
  1. drill
  2. push
  3. weary
  4. yawn
  5. pierce
  6. squeeze
  7. tire
  8. drip
Verb
  • Portugal’s second goal against Uzbekistan in the group stage added even more variety to the mix, with Bruno Fernandes drilling a low effort towards three runners at the near post.
    — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 14 July 2026
  • The Fever guard, who was walking the Octagon at UFC 329 less than 24 hours earlier, caught fire for 20 points while drilling six of her seven attempts from beyond the arc.
    — Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 13 July 2026
Definition of drill
Verb
  • Paredes didn’t listen, electing instead to push Eric Garcia in the throat.
    — Tim Spiers, New York Times, 20 July 2026
  • Argentina pushed for an equalizer late but couldn’t find the net.
    — Jacob Lev, CNN Money, 19 July 2026
Definition of push
Verb
  • Bram, his husband, has a demanding job at a museum in Rotterdam and Arnold’s bitterness has grown wearying.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2026
  • Maybe the modest size of tonight’s group wearied Nina.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Mar. 2026
Definition of weary
Noun
  • The post also included a snap of the rescuing officer clutching the cat — who appeared much calmer, caught on camera mid-yawn.
    — Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 13 July 2026
  • As the wealth gap yawns ever wider, this has become a favorite question for storytellers to explore.
    — Judy Berman, Time, 8 July 2026
Definition of yawn
Verb
  • According to the artist who made it, John Buckley, and the owner of the home pierced by the shark, Bill Heine, the work was meant as a protest against the recent bombing of Libya, nuclear power and nuclear war, among other things.
    — Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 21 July 2026
  • Much of the campaign focused on educating beachgoers about the presence of the quirky birds known for their piercing calls and habit of using their razor sharp bills to crack open oysters and mussels.
    — Michael Casey, Los Angeles Times, 21 July 2026
Definition of pierce
Verb
  • Barbara Rainey, a Cherry resident of 76 years, said a school bus hit her cousin’s car while trying to squeeze between vehicles parked on either side.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 23 July 2026
  • Tournament football isn’t generally conducive to pressing, with so many matches squeezed into such a short window, and without the cohesion that comes from club sides training together for months.
    — Michael Cox, New York Times, 22 July 2026
Definition of squeeze
Verb
  • In other words, an evening session does not just tire you out.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson July 23, Kansas City Star, 23 July 2026
  • The game slows not only because bodies tire more quickly, but because players begin pacing themselves earlier — conserving energy for the moments that matter most.
    — Alan McCall, New York Times, 11 July 2026
Definition of tire
Noun
  • Adraina prefers her caffeine beverages on the sweet side as a latte, while Matt enjoys cold brew and drip.
    — Katelyn Umholtz, Kansas City Star, 23 July 2026
  • Janet grabbed a roll of paper towels, ready to clean up the dirty drips that ran across her kitchen floor.
    — Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 23 July 2026
Definition of drip

Browse Nearby Words

borders (on)
bore
bore a hand
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Cite this Entry

“Bore.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bore. Accessed 24 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on bore

Nglish: Translation of bore for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bore

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