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
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Recent Examples of bores
Michelle Duff, HollywoodReporter, 27 Apr. 2026
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
The times for the day’s bores are listed outside the visitor center, but on this mid-September day, birds began flocking around the banks of the Salmon River, announcing the bore’s arrival.
—Melanie Stetson Freeman, Christian Science Monitor, 28 Feb. 2025
Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 6 Mar. 2026
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
Noun
Some resorts in the Mamanuca Islands are set to lose entire wings to the sea in the coming years, and drinking water in villages is already being infiltrated by salt from seawater seeping into ground bores.
—Michelle Duff, HollywoodReporter, 27 Apr. 2026
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
The times for the day’s bores are listed outside the visitor center, but on this mid-September day, birds began flocking around the banks of the Salmon River, announcing the bore’s arrival.
—Melanie Stetson Freeman, Christian Science Monitor, 28 Feb. 2025
Verb
For instance, if a textbook bores you, try watching a documentary!
—Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 6 Mar. 2026
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
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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
Verb
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An imam at the mosque, Taha Hassane, said the center practices the lockdown drills multiple times every school year.—
Tim Stelloh,
NBC news,
21 May 2026
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By competition, Tolbert is referring to all the on-field, and off-field drills the Dolphins have been doing this offseason, which get so competitive players routinely request to see the film because a daily winner is declared, and the leader is tracked.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
12 May 2026
Verb
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Produced by Kunal Kemmu and Chirag Nihalani through their Drongo Films banner, Vibe centers on two inseparable friends whose ordinary, unassuming lives spiral into an unpredictable, high-energy adventure that pushes their survival instincts and friendship to the limit.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
19 May 2026
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The problem is that urgency pushes people toward fast decisions — and wildfire smoke is exactly when bad air purifier choices become expensive.—
Ryan Brennan
May 19,
Miami Herald,
19 May 2026
Noun
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Put a tray or a sheet of foil underneath casseroles, desserts, and other dishes to catch drips and spills.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
14 May 2026
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And liquid cheese drips over the side of a stout little fish nugget accompanied by Sichuan pickle tartar sauce.—
Julia Sayers Gokhale,
Midwest Living,
13 May 2026
Verb
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Lockwood’s music instills joy in listening, and such revitalized desire leaves your body freshly tender, sensitive to whatever pierces the ear.—
Joshua Minsoo Kim,
Pitchfork,
28 Apr. 2026
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Its 1959 Googie-style sign pierces the sky, a beacon of hope for weary road-trippers cruising this achingly lonely stretch of highway.—
Zoey Goto,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
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For the United States, the blockade squeezes Iran’s already weakened economy by denying it long-term cash flow.—
Michelle L. Price,
Fortune,
19 Apr. 2026
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The waves, which were first used in Boston in 2011, help spread things out so that runners don’t have to walk after the start, when Main Street in Hopkinton squeezes to just 39 feet wide.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Kenner said Thuja will only truly rest after a long session of training or searching, which tires out not only her body but also her brain.—
Liz Teitz,
San Antonio Express-News,
19 Mar. 2026
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Additional motorsport-style heave dampers act to suppress squat and dive, giving the bespoke Pirelli Trofeo R tires a fighting chance of relaying 1,257 ft lbs of torque to the road.—
Tim Pitt,
Robb Report,
6 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Space the planting holes 18 to 24 inches apart and space rows 3 to 6 feet apart.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
4 May 2026
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The flight attendants then attempted to solve the problem by shoving napkins inside the ceiling holes.—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
2 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bores.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bores. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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