bothered

adjective

both·​ered ˈbä-t͟hərd 

: 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

Synonyms

• annoyed
• irritated
• upset
• exasperated

Examples of bothered in a Sentence

got all hot and bothered by his brother's constant unsolicited advice

Recent Examples on the Web

Yet, series creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann weren't too bothered when Pascal gave his war wound update. —Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 13 Apr. 2025

Everyone is hot and bothered, confused and unsure what to do next. —Solitaire Townsend, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025

Though the hotel employee appeared visibly worked up from attempting to remove the boot from Roach's foot, the 46-year-old didn't seem too bothered. —Starr Bowenbank, People.com, 13 May 2025

Jaclyn doesn’t understand why Laurie is so bothered, and when Kate takes Jaclyn’s side, Laurie brings up how Jaclyn hit on Kate’s husband Dave at her wedding (!). —Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 30 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

from past participle of bother entry 1

First Known Use

1851, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for bothered

• grandfathered
• fathered