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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb bother differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of bother are annoy, irk, and vex. While all these words mean "to upset a person's composure," bother suggests interference with comfort or peace of mind.

don't bother me while I'm reading

In what contexts can annoy take the place of bother?

The words annoy and bother are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, annoy implies a wearing on the nerves by persistent petty unpleasantness.

their constant complaining annoys us

When can irk be used instead of bother?

Although the words irk and bother have much in common, irk stresses difficulty in enduring and the resulting weariness or impatience of spirit.

careless waste irks the boss

When is it sensible to use vex instead of bother?

The synonyms vex and bother are sometimes interchangeable, but vex implies greater provocation and stronger disturbance and usually connotes anger but sometimes perplexity or anxiety.

vexed by her son's failure to clean his room

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of bother
Verb
But that doesn’t bother the four justices who wanted to help Trump: Clarence Thomas, Sam Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh. New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 11 Jan. 2025 What bothers me most about this letter is the fact that antisemitism is on the rise and this kind of ugly, anti-Democrat rhetoric simply adds fuel to the fire. Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 10 Jan. 2025
Noun
The pair find themselves in trouble after a hazing incident goes wrong, and attempt to lie, deceive and seduce their way out of bother. Abid Rahman, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Oct. 2024 In the Spanish capital on Saturday then, Lamine is guaranteed to be a starter on the right wing looking to cause Carlo Ancelotti's men and in particular Ferland Mendy all kinds of bother. Tom Sanderson, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for bother 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bother
Verb
  • The glorious few who still worry about the decline of Palm Beach society speculated wildly that Trump was planning to legalize gambling and build a casino, or — the truly frightening possibility — subdivide his acreage and sell houses.
    Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2025
  • Tech sell-off Stocks fell on Tuesday as investors worried about economic data and tech names tumbled.
    Michele Luhn, CNBC, 8 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • The game was tied at 25 with 7:22 left in the first half, but Florida Southwestern was clearly annoyed by the constant pressure.
    CJ Moore, The Athletic, 8 Jan. 2025
  • Mostly we are annoyed by inane thickets of regulation and are suckers for a politician who vows to sweep them aside.
    Peter C. Baker, New York Times, 1 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • The volcano’s light illuminates a double lenticular cloud, or a UFO-like cloud formation created when a mountain disturbs air flow and creates standing waves above it.
    Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Jan. 2025
  • The restaurant’s owner requested that the police detain the tourist for intoxication and disturbing the public order; on Sunday, Cabo Rojo’s mayor said that the responding officer had been suspended while the case was being investigated.
    Graciela Mochkofsky, The New Yorker, 8 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Keep their necessities together, in a spot where they can be reached in a hurry.
    Donna Vickroy, Chicago Tribune, 17 Jan. 2025
  • Grant gets off the ball in a hurry and finds a healthy balance between playing laterally and downhill.
    Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • The lawsuit, filed in September 2023 in Sacramento Superior Court, alleged the city was causing a public nuisance by allowing homeless camps on public property.
    Rosalio Ahumada, Sacramento Bee, 9 Jan. 2025
  • Both appeals said the landfill is a nuisance to residents and contend the expansion needed the city's support to proceed under state law.
    Tom Sissom, arkansasonline.com, 8 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • At the Brentwood location of popular Italian eatery Jon & Vinny’s, staff complained of headaches and sore throats in a text message group chat.
    Suhauna Hussain, Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 2025
  • The common symptoms of POTS include light-headedness, fainting, brain fog, fatigue, headache, blurred vision, tremors, and nausea.
    Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Moments of joy and vulnerability are interwoven with frustration, sadness, and fear.
    Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025
  • This shift has led to frustration and disappointment among job seekers who invest time and effort in the interview process.
    Jack Kelly, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • One exception will be the Pacific Northwest, where on-and-off rain is likely to pester revelers in Portland, Oregon, and Seattle on New Year's Eve, Sosnowski said.
    Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 31 Dec. 2024
  • Drones have begun playing a larger role in military conflicts, while also pestering American bases in the United Kingdom and the U.S. Police now often take special precautions to counter drones at major events.
    Sophia Pargas, NBC News, 12 Dec. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near bother

Cite this Entry

“Bother.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bother. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.

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