1
as in drills
to make a hole or series of holes in
some woodpecker bored holes in our tree in the backyard
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in wearies
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
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 bores
Judith Thurman, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2025
Anyone who thinks English Heritage sites are run by bores is in for a surprise.
—Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Sep. 2025
The researchers plan to expand their study to a larger number of boreholes, including water bores, to understand the full scope of the issue better nd find more opportunities to reduce emissions.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 4 Sep. 2025
Caitlin Looby, jsonline.com, 23 Jan. 2026
But the patient, grinding work of peace implementation typically bores him.
—Bobby Ghosh, Time, 14 Oct. 2025
In the film, one glowing maggot scores an oversized moth, wraps it up, then bores through its eye before eating its living brain.
—Ann Patchett, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2025
Noun
Her books were their progeny, Stein acknowledged, and without Alice’s mothering—and typing, proofreading, cooking, sewing, shopping, bookkeeping, and warding off bores—they might not have been born.
—Judith Thurman, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2025
Anyone who thinks English Heritage sites are run by bores is in for a surprise.
—Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Sep. 2025
The researchers plan to expand their study to a larger number of boreholes, including water bores, to understand the full scope of the issue better nd find more opportunities to reduce emissions.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 4 Sep. 2025
Verb
The invasive beetle bores into wood and kills ash trees by eating tissues under the bark.
—Caitlin Looby, jsonline.com, 23 Jan. 2026
But the patient, grinding work of peace implementation typically bores him.
—Bobby Ghosh, Time, 14 Oct. 2025
In the film, one glowing maggot scores an oversized moth, wraps it up, then bores through its eye before eating its living brain.
—Ann Patchett, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bores
Noun
-
With that indelible Southern gift for pulling new lingo from thin air, the duo deploy yawns that stretch like bungee over Zaytoven-type keys.—
Olivier Lafontant,
Pitchfork,
13 Feb. 2026
-
The oohs and aahs over a 100-mph pitch have been replaced by yawns.—
Bill Shaikin,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
And drugs with more complicated delivery systems, such as injections or intravenous drips, may also require supervision.—
Lauren J. Young,
Scientific American,
20 Feb. 2026
-
The spa offers everything from traditional services such as massages and facials to biohacking, IV drips and energy work.—
Shelby Hartman,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bores.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bores. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
