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

\/\/ don't bother<\/em> me while I'm reading<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "In what contexts can 'annoy' take the place of 'bother'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

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

\/\/ their constant complaining annoys<\/em> us<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When can 'irk' be used instead of 'bother'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

Although the words irk<\/em><\/a> and bother<\/em> have much in common, irk<\/em> stresses difficulty in enduring and the resulting weariness or impatience of spirit.<\/p>

\/\/ careless waste irks<\/em> the boss<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When is it sensible to use 'vex' instead of 'bother'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

The synonyms vex<\/em><\/a> and bother<\/em> are sometimes interchangeable, but vex<\/em> implies greater provocation and stronger disturbance and usually connotes anger but sometimes perplexity or anxiety.<\/p>

\/\/ vexed<\/em> by her son's failure to clean his room<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How does the verb 'bother' differ from other similar words?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

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

\/\/ don't bother<\/em> me while I'm reading<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "In what contexts can 'annoy' take the place of 'bother'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

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

\/\/ their constant complaining annoys<\/em> us<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When can 'irk' be used instead of 'bother'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

Although the words irk<\/em><\/a> and bother<\/em> have much in common, irk<\/em> stresses difficulty in enduring and the resulting weariness or impatience of spirit.<\/p>

\/\/ careless waste irks<\/em> the boss<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When is it sensible to use 'vex' instead of 'bother'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

The synonyms vex<\/em><\/a> and bother<\/em> are sometimes interchangeable, but vex<\/em> implies greater provocation and stronger disturbance and usually connotes anger but sometimes perplexity or anxiety.<\/p>

\/\/ vexed<\/em> by her son's failure to clean his room<\/p>" } } ] }

bother 1 of 2

verb

ˈbä-tÍŸhÉ™r How to pronounce bother (audio)
Definition of bothernext
1
as in to worry
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to annoy
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to fret
to experience concern or anxiety just get the basic concept right and don't bother about the details

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to disturb
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

bother

2 of 2

noun

1
as in hurry
a state of noisy, confused activity the whole household was in a bother, as our overnight guests were expected to arrive any minute

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in nuisance
one who is obnoxiously annoying the woman next-door is such a bother—always dropping in at the most inopportune moments!

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in headache
something that is a source of irritation returning damaged goods is a real bother

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in frustration
the feeling of impatience or anger caused by another's repeated disagreeable acts never let his personal bothers interfere with his responsibilities at work

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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
Combs doesn’t even bother to feign a surprise. —Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Pitchfork, 20 Mar. 2026 But Hollywood has a short memory and most of the people who benefited from Devlin’s meteoric rise and the kidnapping can’t be bothered to help her now. —Paula L. Woods, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2026
Noun
The sobriety mandate will be good for your guests’ health while also sparing you the bother of hosting future Super Bowl parties. —Greg Cote february 5, Miami Herald, 5 Feb. 2026 The gun violence killed 10-year-old Jordan Garcia and 21-year-old Kiyah Mae Scott and injured three other people, including Garcia's 11-year-old bother, according to Essex County prosecutors. —Christina Fan, CBS News, 17 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bother
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bother
  1. worry
  2. annoy
  3. disturb
  4. hurry
  5. nuisance
  6. headache
  7. frustration
  8. pester
Verb
  • In the 19th, Grace Panetta studied the answers in another Navigator focus group, from young women worried about economic ups and downs.
    — David Weigel, semafor.com, 26 Mar. 2026
  • But residents worry what's next amid heightened military presence.
    — Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 25 Mar. 2026
Definition of worry
Verb
  • More traditional Bachelor Nation fans annoyed by the influencer-ification of reality TV already considered Paul the death knell for the franchise even before the recent scandal.
    — Rebecca Jennings, Vulture, 20 Mar. 2026
  • While nobody at Netflix has suggested that the Sussexes violated any of the terms of their agreement, which allows the couple to engage in projects in other arenas and participate in interviews for other distribution outlets, many at the streamer were annoyed by the lack of communication.
    — Matt Donnelly, Variety, 17 Mar. 2026
Definition of annoy
Verb
  • The charges include alleged activity on social media, sending content to foreign media outlets, espionage and disturbing public order, HRANA said before adding that its count was based on official reports.
    — Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 19 Mar. 2026
  • Some philosophical discussions are lost but some necessarily disturbing physical moments are kept.
    — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 18 Mar. 2026
Definition of disturb
Noun
  • Now’s the time to get shopping to build out (or add to) your very own K-beauty routine, and hurry—before these sales run out of stock.
    — Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 25 Mar. 2026
  • Experts are terming this more of a long-term drought given the longevity but still, a wet spring could change things in a hurry.
    — Terry Eliasen, CBS News, 19 Mar. 2026
Definition of hurry
Noun
  • Pollution was legally viewed as a local nuisance – the unavoidable price of progress.
    — Ella Whitman, The Conversation, 19 Mar. 2026
  • Quantum measurement disturbance, ordinarily a nuisance, would serve as a shield against prying eyes.
    — Ben Brubaker, Quanta Magazine, 18 Mar. 2026
Definition of nuisance
Noun
  • Raise massive capital, hire hundreds of people, build a sprawling department for every operational headache — from VAT compliance in Marseille to sourcing logistics in Shenzhen.
    — Kuo Zhang, Fortune, 23 Mar. 2026
  • However, despite Roy often being a headache for House GOP leadership, many MAGA Republicans still recognize Roy as a conservative fighter.
    — Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 22 Mar. 2026
Definition of headache
Noun
  • But Apple shut down Dark Sky in 2023, prompting an online outcry, and Grossman eventually left out of frustration with Apple’s sluggish corporate schedule of annual software updates.
    — Kyle Chayka, New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2026
  • Luz Diaz Luz Diaz took her frustration to Hackensack City Hall on Tuesday evening.
    — Adi Guajardo, CBS News, 25 Mar. 2026
Definition of frustration
Verb
  • All-American Madison Booker thrives in the midrange, while senior Rori Harmon pesters along the perimeter and Jordan Lee spots up for buckets.
    — Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2026
  • Minnesota still possesses enough perimeter defensive talent to pester opponents on a nightly basis.
    — Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 18 Mar. 2026
Definition of pester

Browse Nearby Words

botching
bother
botheration
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Cite this Entry

“Bother.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bother. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of bother for Spanish Speakers

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