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
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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
Bestreviews, Mercury News, 6 Feb. 2026
That inward struggle made it to the surface because Glenn no longer bothers with charades.
—Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026
Kyle comes in late and bothers Amanda for an eye mask.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 4 Feb. 2026
People don’t think this bothers me.
—Safiyah Riddle, Fortune, 26 Jan. 2026
The loss is what bothers me most.
—Tom Orsborn, San Antonio Express-News, 21 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
Verb
Most people are able to put the splint away once their plantar fasciitis no longer bothers them.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 6 Feb. 2026
That inward struggle made it to the surface because Glenn no longer bothers with charades.
—Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026
Kyle comes in late and bothers Amanda for an eye mask.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 4 Feb. 2026
People don’t think this bothers me.
—Safiyah Riddle, Fortune, 26 Jan. 2026
The loss is what bothers me most.
—Tom Orsborn, San Antonio Express-News, 21 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
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
-
Wildfire worries As the warmth builds, dry, gusty winds will sweep across the High Plains this week, increasing the risk of wildfire ignition and rapid spread.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Even this newspaper story worries her.—
Christopher Borrelli,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
What really disturbs professionals is the FDA’s injection of inconsistency into its reviews of drug applications.—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
-
By cross-pollinating different groups of thinkers, Seth disturbs the pattern-completion machinery of each mind, clearing the ground for alternative insights to land.—
Rachel Barr,
Big Think,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Barry said the new penalties are being enacted to coincide with the town’s passage of new rules dealing with nuisances and stormwater issues.—
Jim Woods,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Jody Allen should not appear on a list of the NFL’s biggest nuisances.—
Jerry Brewer,
New York Times,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
That would create major headaches and cause even more travel disruptions than occur.—
Al Weaver,
The Hill,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Airbags and seatbelts help, but people may still end up with lingering pain, limited movement, or headaches.—
Matt Emma,
USA Today,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Holly Sleppy, a 52-year-old who works at Virtua, shared her frustrations, which many menopausal women are feeling because of a shortage of the estrogen patches used to treat symptoms like hot flashes, irritability and brain fog.—
Stephanie Stahl,
CBS News,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Elfman, sharing the board’s frustrations, said Foxboro’s police and fire chiefs have been preparing for the World Cup for over three years.—
Lance Reynolds,
Boston Herald,
18 Feb. 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 21 Feb. 2026.
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