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
Relevance
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bothering
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
But at the same time, the people that are bothering me are showing us love.
—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
12 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
The tears then started to flow, as Zheng took deep breaths and explained that the foot issue was to reapply tape to a foot blister that had been bothering her.
—
Charlie Eccleshare,
New York Times,
25 May 2026
Verb
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
But at the same time, the people that are bothering me are showing us love.
—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
12 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
The tears then started to flow, as Zheng took deep breaths and explained that the foot issue was to reapply tape to a foot blister that had been bothering her.
—
Charlie Eccleshare,
New York Times,
25 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bothering
Noun
-
Potential jurors questioned on harassment, retaliation A jury pools of roughly 300 Johnson County residents was whittled down to 110 on Monday morning before attorneys began their questions.
-
Ovitz had left the agency a few months before the alleged assault, but Ormond’s attorneys wanted to question him about his knowledge of Weinstein, the operations of CAA, and the culture of harassment in the industry, which Ovitz had referenced in his memoir.
Verb
-
There was drama, remarkable goals and worrying injury in Sweden’s showdown with Japan at AT&T Stadium Thursday in the final Group F match.
-
The president's strategy is already worrying some Democrats in swing districts, such as Tom Suozzi and Laura Gillen on Long Island.
Verb
-
The necessity of the trip at all is what's been bugging me.
-
His doctor had been bugging him for years to get a colonoscopy because of his age, but Driggers declined.
Verb
-
However, there was a distracting graphical issue where characters and objects would get weird glowy or black artifacts around the edges in close-up shots during battles and cutscenes.
-
People attending the trial would also be prohibited from reacting, gesturing, wearing distracting clothing, or otherwise disrupting proceedings.
Noun
-
Golt could not say what the disturbance was about.
-
However, in the eastern Pacific basin, a pair of tropical disturbances are being watched for possible development in the next several days far from land.
Verb
-
Weird; annoying even – but the floaters did not seem urgent.
-
My biggest concern about adding a tracking device around Mya’s neck was annoying her or creating disruption.
Verb
-
But for those who just want to grab a bite or see a movie at the IMAX theater, the security protocol is an additional — possibly irritating — barrier.
-
The active ingredients in the formula include niacinamide, adenosine, and allantoin, which work together to brighten dark circles, smooth fine lines, and reduce the appearance of wrinkles without irritating sensitive skin.
Verb
-
Initial ticket sales are concerning for the studio because the movie’s polarizing reception, as well as the intense competition during the peak of summer movie season, could limit its theatrical staying power.
-
Useful, next generation AI features that also might come with some concerning security issues.
Cite this Entry
“Bothering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bothering. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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