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noun

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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
Do the Blue Jays even bother pitching to Ohtani again in this game? Greg Rosenstein, NBC news, 28 Oct. 2025 Berwald isn't alone in being bothered by misbehaving kids at breweries. Jordyn Noennig, jsonline.com, 27 Oct. 2025
Noun
But, in Los Alamitos, the troop presence hasn’t been a bother for the surrounding community, Hasselbrink said. Erika I. Ritchie, Oc Register, 8 July 2025 Indeed, the dog didn't seem to have any problems moving with the crate around him, even managing to change direction without bother. Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for bother
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bother
Verb
  • More broadly, the NBA has expressed concern about prop bets, while other sports leagues have worried about the potential for manipulation.
    Preston Fore, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2025
  • After Trump spoke to Lurie, local leaders and advocates worried that Trump would shift his attention from San Francisco, which at one point hosted more billionaires than any other city, to less powerful and more diverse enclaves like Oakland and Alameda.
    Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 25 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • While Johnson had plenty to be pleased with, he was annoyed by the number of penalties and said the offense has to do a better job of running the football.
    Lou Ponsi, Oc Register, 25 Oct. 2025
  • They’re built not to resist developers but, as their name suggests, they’re intentionally designed, with a degree of malice, to annoy someone specific.
    Lilit Marcus, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Conventional cleanup techniques often worsen the problem by disturbing soil structures and consuming large amounts of energy.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2025
  • There is trash and pollutants from the tourists and gravel has been mined from the area to make trekking routes for people, disturbing the places where females may have laid their eggs, researchers said.
    Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 24 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Unfortunately, to save time, someone who is always in a hurry with limited time for exercise except weekends may be in the habit of leaping into vigorous exercise without warming up properly.
    Bryant Stamford, Louisville Courier Journal, 30 Oct. 2025
  • Christian Barmore led with four hurries and Milton Williams had three, but Gabriel was hit just twice.
    Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 28 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Wednesday Bye weeks have been mostly a nuisance so far this season.
    Kevin Cusick, Twin Cities, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Usually a last resort, the public nuisance investigation allows the Davidson County District Attorney's Office to bring these actions to criminal court, despite the complaint itself being civil in nature, Aaron said.
    Kirsten Fiscus, Nashville Tennessean, 24 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Among the opponents are some residents of Alton Road, who say that gating off North Bay Road would worsen the city’s already substantial traffic problems and create headaches for people trying to access their homes.
    Aaron Leibowitz, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2025
  • Utilities were stuck with the headache and expense of storing waste themselves, so in 2014, a judge forbade the federal government from continuing to collect the NWF fees.
    Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 29 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • With appointment supporters in the majority, Canepa expressed frustration.
    Ryan Macasero, Mercury News, 29 Oct. 2025
  • Now, Kiya Tomlin’s journey into fashion started with frustration.
    Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 29 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • On possession after possession, González picked up Brunson full court and tried his best to pester the Knicks star.
    Jay King, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Alex Caruso was the ace in the hole, pestering and prodding Jokic to death in Game 7.
    Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 10 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Bother.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bother. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.

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