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

Wasps are generally more interested in building their colony and finding food than in bothering people. — Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 17 July 2026 But after going ahead, England manager Thomas Tuchel tried to shut the back door by throwing on countless defenders and not bothering to attack Argentina anymore. — Aleks Klosok, CNN Money, 15 July 2026

Noun

From the Japanese point of view, leaving rubbish piled up in a stadium would be a bother to others. — Stephen Wade, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026 But faced with enough bother, the dial can turn all the way to Level Six, and an unrestrained force of nature is unleashed. — Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 17 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bother

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bother

Verb

While supporters say this is necessary for the UC to remain a leader in STEM fields, critics worry these tests are biased against low-income and minority students.

— Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 22 July 2026
Substantive verses are new terrain for Lacy, who, as a younger writer, worried more about hooks and beats.

— Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 22 July 2026

Definition of worry

Verb

To make matters worse, the team also polled people on what behaviors annoy them most about other beachgoers.

— Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 19 July 2026
Of course, this would depend on whether the managers choose to pick their strongest teams in what for some is a meaningless, even annoying extra fixture, for squads who just want to go home.

— Eduardo Tansley, New York Times, 18 July 2026

Definition of annoy

Verb

Plus, Bluetooth headphone pairing lets students watch TV late at night without disturbing roommates.

— Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 22 July 2026
Environmental groups fear that breeding grounds could be disturbed by a variety of things including vehicle traffic and unchecked development.

— Michael Casey, Los Angeles Times, 21 July 2026

Definition of disturb

Noun

Kansas City is asking a judge to put control of a vacant former shopping mall that the city calls a nuisance into new hands.

— Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 23 July 2026
These tiny insects are a summertime nuisance that prey on people, pets, and wildlife, including birds, leaving behind an aggravating itch that can last for more than a week.

— Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 22 July 2026

Definition of nuisance

Noun

Around one in 13 people experience recurring morning headaches, research suggests, with women and those between the ages of 45 and 64 more likely to have them.

— Kathleen Felton, Washington Post, 17 July 2026
As body temperature rises and humidity limits the body’s ability to cool itself, mild symptoms such as cramps and headaches can progress to shortness of breath, dizziness, confusion, nausea, and ultimately life-threatening heat stroke.

— Laura Schifter, Time, 17 July 2026

Definition of headache

Noun

That is why there has been such a deluge of anger and frustration from the public, even more than from the tournament exits under Southgate.

— Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 19 July 2026
In a Thursday episode of The Ben Shapiro Show, Shapiro hit Vance particularly over his comments on the latter topic and his views on Americans’ frustration with the country’s economic system over the past few decades.

— Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 17 July 2026

Definition of frustration

Verb

Players like Ousmane Dembélé, Michael Olise, Désiré Doué and more have simply pestered country after country, possessing the ball well and finding all types of angles to strike on goal.

— Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 13 July 2026
Reese pestered Cardoso at the top of the key and tapped rebounds up and out of her reach on the offensive boards.

— Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 10 June 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 23 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of bother

verb

noun

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on bother

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

maverick

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

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

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

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

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

Popular in Wordplay

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 24

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?

Popular

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes