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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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bother

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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
Criticism of the court doesn’t bother me. Ella Lee, The Hill, 6 May 2026 This defense with this personnel feels like a long shot to bother SGA for consecutive games, much less a whole series. Joel Lorenzi, New York Times, 6 May 2026
Noun
If even a die-hard Huppert admirer like me has trouble getting through it, why would a casual cinephile bother? Peter Debruge, Variety, 8 Feb. 2026 The sobriety mandate will be good for your guests’ health while also sparing you the bother of hosting future Super Bowl parties. Greg Cote february 5, Miami Herald, 5 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bother
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bother
Verb
  • One perhaps shouldn’t worry too much about AI being prompted to resurrect a talk-show host, what with the whole format dying anyway.
    Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 6 May 2026
  • Equally important, a chatbot does not worry about your wellbeing the way a doctor might—which is important, since the best healers combine technical skills with moral judgment and empathy.
    Sudheesha Perera, Time, 6 May 2026
Verb
  • The non-meat use of the term came from the online chat room community, which by the late 1980s was already using it to denote a mass influx of data into their chat rooms that could trigger a computer crash and/or annoy chat room users.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Apr. 2026
  • As a matter of fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if the president doesn’t get annoyed with him once or twice.
    NBC news, NBC news, 26 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Remaining quiet and respectful increases the chances of observing bears in their natural habitat without disturbing them.
    Debbie Olsen, Travel + Leisure, 2 May 2026
  • Coherence unravels strange events and disturbing moments that are sure to thrill.
    Grace Dean, Space.com, 2 May 2026
Noun
  • Arteta sprinted off to retrieve the ball like a man possessed, in a hurry.
    Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 6 May 2026
  • Topped with special sauce and pickle slices, these will be gone in a hurry.
    Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 30 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • For a league still trying to grow its footprint, treating media availability like a nuisance is a curious growth strategy.
    Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 7 May 2026
  • The second phase of the proceedings, known as a juryless bench trial, will establish over a three-week period if Meta’s actions created a public nuisance, thus warranting potential product changes.
    Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 4 May 2026
Noun
  • Magic Mountain removed Revolution’s simple lap bars in 1992 and installed over-the-shoulder restraints — resulting in head-banging headaches for dismayed riders and making the coaster painfully unrideable.
    Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 4 May 2026
  • Some people dealing with the infection, called hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), can have headaches, dizziness, chills and stomach problems.
    Evan Bush, NBC news, 4 May 2026
Noun
  • Most fans understand that the need for more professional-caliber resources wasn’t going to be met under Mohegan Tribe ownership, but there is deep frustration over the Sun’s relocation out of New England.
    Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 28 Apr. 2026
  • But for the residents and business-owners, the possibility of another set of G train outage evoked frustration after two years of service suspensions while crews worked to upgrade the signaling system on the Crosstown Line.
    Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 28 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The Portland Trail Blazers’ wing lives to pester dribblers in places few others would dare.
    Fred Katz, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Hohenhaus explains that bored cats may pester owners for attention, which is often mistaken for hunger.
    Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Bother.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bother. Accessed 11 May. 2026.

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