bothered

adjective

both·​ered ˈbä-t͟hərd How to pronounce bothered (audio)
: feeling or showing agitation, worry, annoyance, etc.
Never had Johnny seen Rab so bothered about anything as he was over his inability to get himself a good modern gun.Esther Forbes
… insisted that there was really nothing to get all hot and bothered [=angrily upset] about.Peter Berkowitz

Examples of bothered in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Several studios and distributors are circling the hot package, which should spark one of those good old fashioned bidding wars that get Hollywood so hot and bothered. Brent Lang, Variety, 8 Dec. 2023 Dakota Johnson, one of our least bothered celebrities, has once again turned out a street-style ensemble that's both unattainably fashionable and DGAF casual. Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 23 Oct. 2023 Richards, 79, and Wood, 76, make their guitars bark and bang with a finesse eternally masquerading as rudeness, while Jagger, 80, sounds as hot, bothered, alert and connected as ever. Chris Richards, Washington Post, 20 Oct. 2023 Of course, part of what made the moment so iconic (and messy) was the editing: Viewers will likely remember that, after Madonna locked lips with Britney, the camera cut to Justin Timberlake—Britney’s ex—looking very bothered, his eyebrows raised. Christian Allaire, Vogue, 28 Aug. 2023 For some time now, sensual music that leaves listeners hot and bothered has been classic Monáe. Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2023 While their relationship veers predictable, the floor show tends toward hot and bothered – and quite entertaining. Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 10 Feb. 2023 Sarah Ferguson doesn't seem to be too bothered about not being invited to King Charles III's coronation. Chelsey Sanchez, Harper's BAZAAR, 21 Apr. 2023 Sharpe, actually, seemed even more bothered. Jr Radcliffe, Journal Sentinel, 2 Mar. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bothered.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

from past participle of bother entry 1

First Known Use

1851, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bothered was in 1851

Dictionary Entries Near bothered

Cite this Entry

“Bothered.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bothered. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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