Synonyms of bothering

bothering 1 of 2

noun

as in harassment

the act of making unwelcome intrusions upon another

one more bothering, and I'm going to kick you out of here

Synonyms & Similar Words

• harassment
• bugging
• disturbance
• teasing
• annoyance
• pestering
• torture
• aggravation
• harrying
• importunity
• vexation
• botheration
• bedevilment
• persecution
• torment
• provocation
• molestation
• offense
• mischief
• devilment
• aggro
• devilry

bothering

2 of 2

verb

present participle of bother

1

as in worrying

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

• worrying
• bugging
• annoying
• disturbing
• pestering
• harassing
• irritating
• intruding (upon)
• troubling
• tormenting
• provoking
• chivying
• inconveniencing
• plaguing
• aggravating
• angering
• hassling
• irking
• fretting
• gnawing
• invading
• persecuting
• exasperating
• dogging
• vexing
• getting
• bedeviling
• distressing
• riling
• nettling
• afflicting
• rankling
• besetting
• chafing
• galling
• grating
• antagonizing
• infuriating
• piquing
• besieging
• roiling
• putting out
• agitating
• enraging
• dunning
• rasping
• maddening
• beleaguering
• outraging
• peeving
• perturbing
• obtruding
• inflaming
• incensing
• deviling
• encroaching
• trespassing
• infringing
• cutting in (on)
• butting in

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ignoring
• leaving
• forgetting
• disregarding
• slighting
• obliging
• appeasing
• placating
• disarming
• pleasing
• gratifying
• conciliating
• satisfying
• delighting
• comforting
• mollifying
• consoling
• contenting
• gladdening

2

as in bugging

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

• bugging
• annoying
• irritating
• persecuting
• getting
• aggravating
• eating
• worrying
• plaguing
• irking
• exasperating
• itching
• grating
• teasing
• infuriating
• angering
• vexing
• griping
• spiting
• nettling
• riling
• burning (up)
• ruffling
• insulting
• provoking
• galling
• chafing
• getting to
• piquing
• hacking (off)
• wearing on
• harassing
• peeving
• putting out
• narking
• frosting
• rasping
• upsetting
• nagging
• offending
• hassling
• enraging
• rubbing the wrong way
• getting on one's nerves
• sticking in one's craw
• badgering
• getting one's goat
• pestering
• agitating
• setting one's teeth on edge
• heckling
• unsettling
• outraging
• antagonizing
• rousing
• harrying
• distressing
• inflaming
• baiting
• maddening
• exercising
• rankling
• fretting
• perturbing
• discomforting
• incensing
• affronting
• undoing
• disquieting
• roiling
• bullyragging
• deviling
• unhinging
• hagriding
• freaking (out)
• discomposing
• miffing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• obliging
• appeasing
• placating
• pleasing
• gratifying
• pacifying
• satisfying
• conciliating
• assuring
• delighting
• reassuring
• mollifying
• propitiating
• comforting
• cheering
• consoling
• soothing
• quieting
• contenting
• gladdening
• solacing

3

as in fearing

to experience concern or anxiety

just get the basic concept right and don't bother about the details

Synonyms & Similar Words

• worrying
• fearing
• fretting
• stressing
• troubling
• sweating
• stewing
• fussing
• giving a hang
• longing
• yearning
• sweating blood
• pining
• agonizing
• chafing
• despairing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• accepting
• taking
• tolerating
• sustaining
• bearing
• enduring
• sticking out
• abiding
• stomaching

4

as in distracting

to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy

the boss's cryptic message about changes to the company bothered me

Synonyms & Similar Words

• distracting
• worrying
• concerning
• disturbing
• alarming
• agitating
• plaguing
• angering
• unsettling
• upsetting
• annoying
• distressing
• haunting
• bugging
• irritating
• ailing
• derailing
• exercising
• perturbing
• undoing
• fussing
• discomforting
• dismaying
• confusing
• disquieting
• rattling
• embarrassing
• unhinging
• freaking (out)
• harassing
• aggravating
• pestering
• discomposing
• distempering
• exasperating
• irking
• discouraging
• hagriding
• flurrying
• frazzling
• weirding out
• vexing
• fretting
• harrying
• riling
• nettling
• getting
• chafing
• galling
• bedeviling
• grating
• piquing
• putting off
• disconcerting
• putting out
• chivying
• peeving
• mortifying
• jarring
• flustering
• confounding
• discomfiting
• shaking up
• discountenancing
• unnerving
• disheartening
• fazing
• daunting
• demoralizing
• dispiriting
• nonplussing
• abashing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• settling
• composing
• soothing
• quieting
• calming
• alleviating
• allaying
• tranquilizing
• appeasing
• placating
• assuaging
• pacifying
• conciliating
• mollifying
• propitiating

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of bothering

Verb

Travis was snapped having a blast bothering Jason as the duo attended a match between Jupiter Links GC and The Bay Golf Club at SoFi Center on March 3. — Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 2 July 2026

For now, the Royals hope to figure out exactly what’s bothering him. — Kansas City Star, 1 July 2026

That shift may help explain why some couples notice their partner’s scent bothering them more during periods of conflict. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 June 2026

The chest pain that had been bothering her finally let up. — Tyler Quattrin, Twin Cities, 19 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

That appears to be bothering people, as the broadcast noted some pointed conversations among the Spanish team during the hydration break. — Andrew Greif, NBC news, 16 June 2026

Brunson turned on the boosters in the second half, attacking the Spurs' defense and showing little sign that his knee was bothering him. — Alejandro Avila, FOXNews.com, 4 June 2026

If certain smells or experiences are bothering you, here are some other tips for managing postpartum odor and sweat. — Dory Zayas, Parents, 28 May 2026