as in harassment
the act of making unwelcome intrusions upon another
one more bothering, and I'm going to kick you out of here
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in worrying
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in bugging
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 fretting
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 distracting
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bothering
Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 6 Sep. 2025
That appeared to be a distraction at times to Anisimova, who motioned to her team in the stands that something was bothering her during ball tosses for serves.
—Howard Fendrich, Mercury News, 6 Sep. 2025
Because Paris is a magical place, Belly’s pickpocket takes her backpack directly to a rave without even bothering to open it.
—Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2025
So, at least for now, Chamorro is not bothering with the official Pop Mart drops.
—Ramishah Maruf, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2025
While there is still hope that Clark can return this season from the groin injury that has been bothering her, there is no guarantee of that becoming a reality.
—Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Aug. 2025
Think of a small worry, problem or concern that has been bothering you.
—Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2025
However, the new romance seems to be bothering Bloom.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 6 Aug. 2025
If his toe injury is still bothering him, Fields isn’t using that as an excuse.
—Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 5 Aug. 2025
Verb
Lead with Gratitude and Grace Calling out someone for bothering you is always tricky.
—Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 6 Sep. 2025
That appeared to be a distraction at times to Anisimova, who motioned to her team in the stands that something was bothering her during ball tosses for serves.
—Howard Fendrich, Mercury News, 6 Sep. 2025
Because Paris is a magical place, Belly’s pickpocket takes her backpack directly to a rave without even bothering to open it.
—Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2025
So, at least for now, Chamorro is not bothering with the official Pop Mart drops.
—Ramishah Maruf, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2025
While there is still hope that Clark can return this season from the groin injury that has been bothering her, there is no guarantee of that becoming a reality.
—Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Aug. 2025
Think of a small worry, problem or concern that has been bothering you.
—Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2025
However, the new romance seems to be bothering Bloom.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 6 Aug. 2025
If his toe injury is still bothering him, Fields isn’t using that as an excuse.
—Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 5 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bothering
Noun
-
The alleged harassment took place over the course of about 17 months, from February 2024 to July 2025, the Star-Telegram previously reported.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Lisa Nandy has voiced her disapproval at major TV players declining to pay annual fees to the UK industry’s new independent bullying and harassment complaints body.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Patients often wait until the doctor is standing up to leave before blurting out their real concern, which is typically a sensitive or time-consuming problem, such as wanting to start birth control, having painful periods, or worrying about pregnancy or STDs.—
Dr. Jill Grimes,
CNN Money,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Losing or leaving a job is already stressful enough without worrying about when your last paycheck will show up.—
Tiffani Jackson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
This combination lends itself to transitions from focus to out of focus and background blur (bokeh) that's smooth and free of distracting elements.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
9 Sep. 2025
-
In class, Danny continues to be disorderly, challenging Maria’s authority, throwing stuff when angry, completely distracting and even frightening the other students.—
Leslie Felperin,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The Sounders’ defenders swarmed Messi from the first minute, and midfielder Obed Vargas was particularly physical, annoying the Argentine icon time and again.—
Michelle Kaufman,
Miami Herald,
1 Sep. 2025
-
In fairness, Arsenal seemed to be annoying Liverpool for much of the first hour.—
Amy Lawrence,
New York Times,
1 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Ten Hag’s first season at United yielded silverware and a third-place league finish, but also had bouts of concerning away form, with tactical weaknesses that would eventually spread and critically undermine his plans for the future.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Far more concerning is the fact that the median age of onset for eating disorders in the United States coincides with the typical age of college enrollment.—
Mallary Tenore Tarpley,
Time,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Jung and Pauli’s hyper-intellectualization of everyday phenomena leaves out a fundamental component of the synchronicity—a deep emotional disturbance.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Sep. 2025
-
The disturbance has no chance of forming over the next 48 hours and a low 30% chance of forming over the next seven days, the hurricane center said.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Two players take on the roles of a brother and sister who are searching for their missing buddies on an island inhabited by some rather disturbing monsters.—
Joshua Lamb,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
-
In 2020, 13-year-old Lauryn Licari and her middle-school boyfriend, Owen McKenny, started getting constant graphic and disturbing messages from an unknown number out of the blue.—
Stephanie McNeal,
Glamour,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
However, Agnes is dressed exactly like Wednesday and her Single White Female act is irritating the hell out of her hero.—
Jessica M. Goldstein,
Vulture,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Pesky skeeters are irritating Lake County residents as the number of insects carrying the worrisome West Nile Virus climbs.—
Charles Selle,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bothering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bothering. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.
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