1
as in annoys
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
2
as in irritates
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 worries
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 disturbs
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
1
as in stirs
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
2
as in nuisances
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
3
as in headaches
something that is a source of irritation
returning damaged goods is a real bother
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in frustrations
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bothers
Safiyah Riddle, Fortune, 26 Jan. 2026
At one point, Bryan Freedman, an attorney for Baldoni and the Wayfarer Studios defendants, asked Lively if negative publicity bothers her.
—Benjamin Vanhoose, PEOPLE, 21 Jan. 2026
That relentless competence obviously drives people crazy, but the other part that bothers opposing fans is the understanding that their clubs could do more.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 18 Jan. 2026
Otherwise, the people who are let go return to their neighborhoods and ICE has to find them, and this bothers Minnesotans and that’s why there is chaos in the streets that makes the national news.
—Joe Soucheray, Twin Cities, 17 Jan. 2026
Feeney’s book features multiple narrators, but relativity is not an idea the series bothers to develop.
—Television Critic, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
Now, wages have grown, but inflation bothers people.
—CBS News, 28 Dec. 2025
Why this question bothers me 8.
—Wilson Santiago Burgos, USA Today, 21 Dec. 2025
If the bloom's appearance bothers you, remove it by applying a small amount of oil, such as cooking oil or baby oil, to a soft cloth, then gently buffing it away in a circular motion.
—Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Dec. 2025
Verb
People don’t think this bothers me.
—Safiyah Riddle, Fortune, 26 Jan. 2026
At one point, Bryan Freedman, an attorney for Baldoni and the Wayfarer Studios defendants, asked Lively if negative publicity bothers her.
—Benjamin Vanhoose, PEOPLE, 21 Jan. 2026
That relentless competence obviously drives people crazy, but the other part that bothers opposing fans is the understanding that their clubs could do more.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 18 Jan. 2026
Otherwise, the people who are let go return to their neighborhoods and ICE has to find them, and this bothers Minnesotans and that’s why there is chaos in the streets that makes the national news.
—Joe Soucheray, Twin Cities, 17 Jan. 2026
Feeney’s book features multiple narrators, but relativity is not an idea the series bothers to develop.
—Television Critic, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026
Now, wages have grown, but inflation bothers people.
—CBS News, 28 Dec. 2025
Why this question bothers me 8.
—Wilson Santiago Burgos, USA Today, 21 Dec. 2025
If the bloom's appearance bothers you, remove it by applying a small amount of oil, such as cooking oil or baby oil, to a soft cloth, then gently buffing it away in a circular motion.
—Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bothers
Verb
-
One of its two young sibling protagonists, Amber (Bianca Belle), channels her feelings about the recent death of her mother into drawings of creatures born out of her troubled imagination, some of whom enact violence against the classmate who annoys her.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
1 Dec. 2025
-
There's just one thing about Claire Danes that annoys Matthew Rhys.—
Yamillah Hurtado,
PEOPLE,
22 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
There’s another distinctly New York habit that irritates Manville — at the end of the performances, theatergoers leap to their feat, not just to applaud, but to whip out their cellphones to record the curtain call.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
16 Jan. 2026
-
Somehow, this irritates Helen even more.—
Sadia Shepard,
New Yorker,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Reyes worries the winter storm gripping North Texas will have serious consequences for her finances.—
Elissa Jorgensen,
Dallas Morning News,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Isabel worries about a golf ball hitting her amid the customers’ wild swings.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Though the time change allows for more daylight in the spring and summer evenings, many have argued the change disturbs the body's circadian rhythms and has significant health drawbacks.—
Maia Pandey,
jsonline.com,
28 Jan. 2026
-
For instance, the downward airflow from the drone propellers disturbs the dust, increasing contamination risks, and the team had to develop additional safety measures to mitigate them.—
Ameya Paleja,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The agent’s ability to boost productivity is obvious as users offload tedious nuisances to Moltbot, helping to realize the dream of AI evangelists.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
31 Jan. 2026
-
City leaders say vacant properties can often lead to neighborhood nuisances.—
James Taylor,
CBS News,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
But in the weeks leading up to Christmas of 2021, Avery started getting headaches.—
Isabella Backman,
Hartford Courant,
27 Jan. 2026
-
No headaches, no residual or negative effects from the accident.—
Will Rice,
Outside,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The weather — moods, misunderstandings, frustrations, disappointments — is variable.—
Glenn Kurlander,
Fortune,
28 Jan. 2026
-
In a December meeting, commissioners acknowledged customers’ frustrations, but added that the winds blew down hundreds of power lines onto the dry landscape.—
Judith Kohler,
Denver Post,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
As the gang is gearing up for this fight, Mike pesters Will to the point that all the latter can do is roll his eyes.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
26 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bothers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bothers. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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