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Definition of bothernext
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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

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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
Jay, dude, why bother at this point? Dominic Patten, Deadline, 17 June 2026 Instead, the reviews were largely muted, with analysts not bothering to adjust their revenue estimates for 2027 or 2028, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Bloomberg, Mercury News, 17 June 2026
Noun
China holds Tibet without noticeable bother, commits crimes against its Uyghur Muslim minority with impunity, launches acts of aggression against its neighbors in the South China Sea, and growls off any court or tribunal that looks askance—which few do. David Frum, The Atlantic, 2 Mar. 2026 Experts have a long history of torturing us with predictions about how technology will wipe us out, first our jobs and then just getting rid of us altogether because humans are a bother. Peter Cappelli, Fortune, 28 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bother
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bother
Verb
  • But prosecutors said their further investigation raised significant doubts about those conclusions, worrying them that a jury would not find Hobby guilty of an arson charge.
    Dillon Thomas, CBS News, 25 June 2026
  • Some academic leaders worry that the report might drive students away from programs that encompass the core of human knowledge.
    Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 25 June 2026
Verb
  • Damian used to get annoyed with his father's motivational chats about responsibility.
    Claudia Boyd-Barrett, CBS News, 18 June 2026
  • Three hours before the parade is set to begin, paradegoers are already annoyed at the disorganization and slow-moving lines.
    Matt Nighswander, NBC news, 18 June 2026
Verb
  • The golf practice center would disturb an already fragile ecosystem with a high water table, the board wrote.
    Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 21 June 2026
  • Gorsuch said the opinion was narrow and did not disturb other provisions of the law, which includes a ban on guns for drug addicts, ban on guns for people presently intoxicated and prohibition of firearms for those deemed a danger to themselves or others.
    Devin Dwyer, ABC News, 18 June 2026
Noun
  • Evans worked as an off-the-ball floor spacer with the ability to heat up from outside in a hurry while shooting 38% from behind the arc through two seasons.
    CBS News, CBS News, 24 June 2026
  • His hushed, ragged whisper feels suitably weathered, fitting a collection of songs that never are in a hurry.
    Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Pitchfork, 22 June 2026
Noun
  • In May, Social Circle filed a lawsuit against DHS, arguing the agency violated federal environmental review requirements and Georgia public nuisance law while pursuing the project.
    CBS News Atlanta Digital Team, CBS News, 19 June 2026
  • Besides being nuisances, many types carry diseases including West Nile virus, encephalitis, and canine heartworm.
    Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 18 June 2026
Noun
  • That’s when the real headache for businesses began, as customs checks, border controls and reams of paperwork came into force.
    Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 22 June 2026
  • But the move enabled Florida to lock in what will be one of the best top-six forward groups in the league, slotting Brady Tkachuck into the left wing spot on the second line alongside center Sam Bennett and right wing Matthew Tkachuk that will cause opponents major headaches.
    Eduardo A. Encina, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 June 2026
Noun
  • Those frustrations could be on the verge of boiling over.
    Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 24 June 2026
  • But without knowing the reasons behind those decisions, the criticism amounts to nothing more than frustrations over unmet expectations.
    Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 23 June 2026
Verb
  • Bonner brought the bull market with him to CSUF, bringing his pressing, pestering and passionate style of play to a fanbase starved for success.
    Brian Robin, Oc Register, 8 June 2026
  • The character, Günter Van Ellis (Ivan Sherry), is seen pestering Oh Father (Daveed Diggs) and Homelander at the White House.
    Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 22 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Bother.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bother. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.

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