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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show current usage.
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Recent Examples of bothering
James Parker, The Atlantic, 28 Oct. 2025
Saft, not bothering to remove his sneakers, leaped onto a chair to place an ornate gold mirror over the mantelpiece.
—Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
Talk through what’s bothering you to gain a compassionate perspective.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 18 Oct. 2025
As a result of McCarthy's high-ankle sprain still bothering him, O'Connell confirmed most Minnesota fans suspicions on Friday, officially naming Carson Wentz the starting quarterback for the game.
—Reice Shipley, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025
What’s up with Jimmy Butler, Seth Curry Jimmy Butler sat out for the third consecutive preseason game, ruled out with an ankle injury that has been bothering him since training camp.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 15 Oct. 2025
The dog recognizes that something is amiss, but isn’t capable of understanding what’s really bothering Todd.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 3 Oct. 2025
The injury that will sideline Herro to begin this season is one that had been bothering him for a few months.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 29 Sep. 2025
There's other important bathroom etiquette travelers should keep in mind to avoid bothering flight attendants.
—Katie Nadworny, Travel + Leisure, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
If something’s bothering you, say so.
—James Parker, The Atlantic, 28 Oct. 2025
Saft, not bothering to remove his sneakers, leaped onto a chair to place an ornate gold mirror over the mantelpiece.
—Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
Talk through what’s bothering you to gain a compassionate perspective.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 18 Oct. 2025
As a result of McCarthy's high-ankle sprain still bothering him, O'Connell confirmed most Minnesota fans suspicions on Friday, officially naming Carson Wentz the starting quarterback for the game.
—Reice Shipley, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025
What’s up with Jimmy Butler, Seth Curry Jimmy Butler sat out for the third consecutive preseason game, ruled out with an ankle injury that has been bothering him since training camp.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 15 Oct. 2025
The dog recognizes that something is amiss, but isn’t capable of understanding what’s really bothering Todd.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 3 Oct. 2025
The injury that will sideline Herro to begin this season is one that had been bothering him for a few months.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 29 Sep. 2025
There's other important bathroom etiquette travelers should keep in mind to avoid bothering flight attendants.
—Katie Nadworny, Travel + Leisure, 16 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bothering
Noun
-
Online attacks against Banda escalated after her recognition for FIFPRO Women's World 11, prompting the NWSL to issue a statement denouncing all forms of harassment and affirming support for Banda and all players.—
Anna Skinner,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Fortunately, Marty, posing as a federal agent here to arrest Lee for harassment, bursts through the One Well doors in the nick of time.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Despite some investors worrying about an AI bubble, the gusher of data center spending has not relented, supporting our thesis in Cisco.—
Kevin Stankiewicz,
CNBC,
9 Nov. 2025
-
This movie was when many started worrying.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Time to start bugging a friend with Hulu + Live TV instead or invest in an antenna.—
Savannah Salazar,
Vulture,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Co-worker bugging you during heads down time?—
Sam Woodward,
USA Today,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The Democratic crackup that’s now underway in Washington is distracting the party from a series of brutal fights just ahead that will culminate in next year’s midterms.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Even without mixing and matching, simple gold hoops can offer a sleek and classy look that feels elevated and sophisticated enough for wearing to the office, celebrating milestones, and attending events without being distracting.—
Jessie Quinn,
StyleCaster,
10 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Kp is an index used to indicate the severity of the global magnetic disturbances in near-Earth space, NOAA said.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
7 Nov. 2025
-
This could result in noise disturbances late into the night.—
Stacey Leasca,
Travel + Leisure,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The dog keeps pulling the tablecloth off the table, there’s piss on the ground, and her husband Jackson, played by Robert Pattinson, is just there — annoying enough on its own.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
17 Oct. 2025
-
A lot of noise around the Chiefs The Chiefs have become a mainstay in NFL discourse by winning three Super Bowls in the Mahomes era, and annoying an endless list of fan bases with their ability to overcome the odds and rally for a late win at an unprecedented rate.—
Scott Chasen,
Kansas City Star,
21 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The play-calling of Payton remains irritating and confusing.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Plus, if wind picks up, the leaves can wind up all over the neighborhood, irritating your neighbors.—
Miranda Crowell,
Better Homes & Gardens,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Britney Spears returned to Instagram on Saturday, less than a week after the singer deactivated her account following a series of concerning posts on the social media site.—
Daniel Kreps,
Rolling Stone,
8 Nov. 2025
-
The Central Valley Flood Protection Board approved work concerning the lower American River this year.—
Ishani Desai,
Sacbee.com,
8 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bothering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bothering. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.
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