BOTHER Synonyms: 362 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'bother' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of bother are annoy , irk , and vex . While all these words mean "to upset a person's composure," bother suggests interference with comfort or peace of mind. // don't bother me while I'm reading

Q: In what contexts can 'annoy' take the place of 'bother'?

The words annoy and bother are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, annoy implies a wearing on the nerves by persistent petty unpleasantness. // their constant complaining annoys us

Q: When can 'irk' be used instead of 'bother'?

Although the words irk and bother have much in common, irk stresses difficulty in enduring and the resulting weariness or impatience of spirit. // careless waste irks the boss

Q: When is it sensible to use 'vex' instead of 'bother'?

The synonyms vex and bother are sometimes interchangeable, but vex implies greater provocation and stronger disturbance and usually connotes anger but sometimes perplexity or anxiety. // vexed by her son's failure to clean his room

bother 1 of 2

verb

ˈbä-t͟hər

Definition of bother

as in to worry

to thrust oneself upon (another) without invitation I am never going to get this work done if people don't stop wandering into the room and bothering me

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to annoy

to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts it bothers me when obviously sick people go to movies and spend the whole time coughing and sneezing

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to fret

to experience concern or anxiety just get the basic concept right and don't bother about the details

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to disturb

to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy the boss's cryptic message about changes to the company bothered me

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

bother

2 of 2

noun

as in hurry

a state of noisy, confused activity the whole household was in a bother, as our overnight guests were expected to arrive any minute

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in nuisance

one who is obnoxiously annoying the woman next-door is such a bother—always dropping in at the most inopportune moments!

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in headache

something that is a source of irritation returning damaged goods is a real bother

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in frustration

the feeling of impatience or anger caused by another's repeated disagreeable acts never let his personal bothers interfere with his responsibilities at work

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb bother differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of bother are annoy, irk, and vex. While all these words mean "to upset a person's composure," bother suggests interference with comfort or peace of mind.

don't bother me while I'm reading

In what contexts can annoy take the place of bother?

The words annoy and bother are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, annoy implies a wearing on the nerves by persistent petty unpleasantness.

their constant complaining annoys us

When can irk be used instead of bother?

Although the words irk and bother have much in common, irk stresses difficulty in enduring and the resulting weariness or impatience of spirit.

careless waste irks the boss

When is it sensible to use vex instead of bother?

The synonyms vex and bother are sometimes interchangeable, but vex implies greater provocation and stronger disturbance and usually connotes anger but sometimes perplexity or anxiety.

vexed by her son's failure to clean his room

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 bother

Verb

Their Superman hadn’t bothered to spring for the whole costume. — Téa Obreht, New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2026 No one from the magazine bothered to help clean up the mess, but Camper, Tim and Mike, until then occupying each other by the Golden Age of SF section, responded rapidly. — Literary Hub, 30 Oct. 2026

Noun

The low-end remains modest throughout, with the persistent kick drum never becoming a bother and the bass never quite standing out in the mix. — Mark Knapp, PC Magazine, 8 July 2026 Moving to a different state wasn’t a bother. — Anthony Aguirre, Miami Herald, 17 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for bother

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bother

Verb

That forced Edmonds and former Horned Frog David Punch (now at Texas) to play lengthy minutes and have to worry about foul trouble.

— Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Nov. 2026
Still, Nowinski is worried the Guardian Cap is giving parents and athletes a false sense of security that the game has been made considerably safer.

— ABC News, ABC News, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of worry

Noun

The Tigers only had six QB hurries, partly due to Jackson escaping the pocket and firing balls out quickly.

— PJ Green November 1, Kansas City Star, 1 Nov. 2026
Defensive tackle Will Echoles consistently disrupted the Missouri offensive front for five tackles, two broken up passes, one sack and one quarterback hurry.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of hurry

Noun

In Shibuya, Halloween festivities were already a nuisance — but now, officials realized there was more to worry about than empty bottles and loud music.

— Lilit Marcus, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2026
The residents want a court to rule that Los Angeles must abate the nuisance on its properties, Wurman said.

— Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of nuisance

Noun

Mountbatten-Windsor’s links to Epstein have caused headaches for Britain’s royal family for almost two decades.

— Danica Kirka, Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2026
Frequent awakenings, loud snoring, gasping during sleep, morning headaches or uncomfortable leg sensations warrant a conversation with a healthcare provider.

— Emily Cegielski, Flow Space, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of headache

Noun

Burks said much of the frustration is connected to top leaders who provide insufficient training.

— Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Oct. 2026
Clinton's lack of a majority and list of frustrations in his first term set the stage for a bruising first midterm election in 1994.

— Ron Elving, NPR, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of frustration

Verb

Andrew Dismukes as Sam-I-Am is pestering the unnamed breakfast hater (Mikey Day).

— Bethy Squires, Vulture, 11 Oct. 2026
Generally speaking, the Rays have a ton of speed, and their small ball tactics could pester a Yankees team that didn’t have the best bunt defense this year.

— Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of pester

Browse Nearby Words

botching

bother

botheration

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Bother.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bother. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of bother

verb

noun

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

quondam

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Old-Timey Vehicles

The Words of the Week - Nov. 6

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes