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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

Example 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
Water deeply in the morning and don’t bother deadheading—hydrangeas don’t need it. Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 24 May 2025 And for nights when you can't be bothered to dirty a million dishes just to get dinner on the table, there's an air fryer from Ninja. Sarah Felbin, SELF, 23 May 2025
Noun
Here’s the scoop on the tastiest kid-friendly crackers that all but guarantee happy snackers, and the crackers that aren’t worth the bother. Jolene Thym, The Mercury News, 4 Feb. 2025 Which team’s pass rush bothers or contains the other QB more effectively might tip this result. Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 26 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bother
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bother
Verb
  • These trends are causing 67% of the workforce to worry about the economy’s impact on their current jobs, according to the Workforce Pulse Survey from Remote.
    Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025
  • From the moment President Donald Trump took office, Flo has worried and contemplated her next steps.
    Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 31 May 2025
Verb
  • Orlando Sentinel Residents also allege the neighbor erected phallic objects on a fence at his home to annoy them.
    Stephen Hudak, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 May 2025
  • Cahill also spoke about how the political nature of the case annoyed him, as politicians spoke out about Floyd's death, and some called for system-wide change.
    Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 25 May 2025
Verb
  • Create Do-Not-Disturb Prompts To Discourage Interruptions Experiment with reducing your availability to interruptions by following specific practices that signal to others you shouldn’t be disturbed.
    Caroline Ceniza-Levine, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025
  • Perhaps your time off request isn’t approved, or your vacation plans have been disturbed by your colleagues.
    Liz Simmons, StyleCaster, 27 May 2025
Noun
  • Pod coffee was an easier way to make a single cup in a hurry.
    Louryn Strampe, Wired News, 24 May 2025
  • Rafael Nadal was a tennis warrior, to be sure: a competitive beast dripping with sweat and relentless in-the-moment ambition who could give the opposition a faraway gaze in a hurry.
    Christopher Clarey, Air Mail, 24 May 2025
Noun
  • The velocity of misinformation isn’t just a nuisance.
    Brent Gleeson, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
  • Eating flaxseed might even ease menopausal symptoms, which—among its many other nuisances—can often include GI issues.
    Christina Pérez, Vogue, 29 May 2025
Noun
  • Its stern warnings are scary and uncomfortable--the headaches, indigestion, muscle spasms, body aches, clenched teeth or knots in your chest.
    Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025
  • More severe cases of salmonellosis may include a high fever, aches, headaches, lethargy, a rash, blood in the urine or stool, and in some cases may become fatal.
    Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 June 2025
Noun
  • The viral TikTok video of the incident, while gaining traction elsewhere, only added to the frustration expressed by those in the thread.
    Darlin Tillery, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 June 2025
  • Postgame, their manager’s frustration was palpable.
    Gabrielle Starr, Boston Herald, 4 June 2025
Verb
  • After the picnic, the brother and sister have some fun by pestering a neighboring cat.
    Esther K. Choy, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025
  • New York struggled with the pestering Indiana defense, leading to 17 turnovers as a team.
    Jacob Lev, CNN Money, 31 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Bother.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bother. Accessed 11 Jun. 2025.

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