BOTHERS Synonyms: 358 Similar and Opposite Words

bothers 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of bother

as in annoys

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

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as in irritates

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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as in worries

to experience concern or anxiety just get the basic concept right and don't bother about the details

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as in disturbs

to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy the boss's cryptic message about changes to the company bothered me

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bothers

2 of 2

noun

plural of bother

as in stirs

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

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as in nuisances

one who is obnoxiously annoying the woman next-door is such a bother—always dropping in at the most inopportune moments!

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as in headaches

something that is a source of irritation returning damaged goods is a real bother

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as in frustrations

the feeling of impatience or anger caused by another's repeated disagreeable acts never let his personal bothers interfere with his responsibilities at work

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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 bothers

Verb

This is why the sameness creeping into corporate communications right now bothers me more than the question of whether AI can write a good press release. — Amanda Simonian, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026 Kurt's key takeaways What bothers me most about DoppelCart is how convincing these fake stores can look. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 18 Sep. 2026 What bothers Fairchild is the assumption behind it — that the dancers are voiceless and helpless. — Maddie Connors, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026 Having my mother in so much of the film [is what] bothers me. — Merle Ginsberg, HollywoodReporter, 14 Sep. 2026 That sequencing bothers people who’ve spent careers being told that data systems need privacy protections designed in, not bolted on after a scandal. — Karl W. Bickel, Baltimore Sun, 25 Aug. 2026 Pheasants are masters at running from noise and hiding in odd places where no one bothers them. — Ron Spomer, Outdoor Life, 19 Aug. 2026 Repel Mice Ultrasonic mouse repellers emit high-frequency sound waves that humans can’t hear, but the high pitch bothers mice. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 17 Aug. 2026 The result is a bunch of people losing their jobs, which really bothers me. — Aaron Portzline, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026

Noun

The Tkachuk bothers have united in Florida, which could give the league a marketing opportunity that breaks through to more casual sports fans who don’t follow the NHL on a regular basis. — Scott Soshnick, Sportico.com, 29 Sep. 2026 Fonseca is the youngest of three bothers. — Merlisa Lawrence Corbett, Forbes.com, 9 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bothers

Verb

What annoys me is that this whole thing is called Roaring 20th, so why was there not a flapper and Great Gatsby theme?

— Brian Moylan, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026
That very same thing is what annoys Liz about Charles 500 years later.

— Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of annoys

Verb

Knowing that Madame Lalouette’s sales numbers are too high to fire her, Carla attempts to transfer Madame Morel to a different department — a move that irritates her superiors and highlights her weakness.

— Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 9 Sep. 2026
With contact dermatitis, a product like a soap or chemical irritates the skin or causes an allergic reaction, leading to symptoms like itching, discoloration, swelling, or even blisters.

— Ayren Jackson-Cannady, Allure, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of irritates

Verb

Wilner-Deering worries that the attention paid to Epstein’s associates has crowded out what survivors have said happened to them.

— Michelle F. Solomon, Miami Herald, 1 Oct. 2026
The Iranian regime also worries that its favorable position will not last forever.

— Mohammad Ayatollahi Tabaar, Foreign Affairs, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of worries

Verb

Some of the sightings claim a man wearing clothing typical of the 17th or 18th centuries, a man dressed in Confederate attire in the liquor room, a ghost of a former worker Joseph Hardesty and a female who actively disturbs visitors to her home.

— Kaitlyn Keegan, Hartford Courant, 25 Sep. 2026
Vibration disturbs the natural sediments in wine, flattening the flavor and aging it prematurely.

— Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of disturbs

Noun

Take some time to seal gaps in window and door frames with weatherproof caulk to prevent fall stink bug problems, along with roaches, boxelder bugs, cluster flies, and other nuisances.

— Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 25 Sep. 2026
Those feedings typically run afoul of associations’ governing documents and their rules and regulations due to the potential nuisances, unsanitary conditions, property damage, and liabilities that feral cats and other animals can create.

— Michael L. Hyman, Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of nuisances

Noun

Hotels increasingly use signature scents to shape their brands, but guests with asthma or chemical sensitivities say those fragrances can trigger headaches and other problems.

— Christopher Reynolds, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026
After six days, 57% of study participants who had VYD2311 injected into the muscle of their upper arm reported headaches, chills, fatigue or pain at the injection site — the typical side effects associated with vaccinations.

— Adam Feuerstein, STAT, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of headaches

Noun

Comments by the Batavia City Council on Tuesday at a Committee of the Whole meeting continued to reflect the city’s frustrations.

— Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 4 Oct. 2026
Rubin acknowledged the union’s frustrations in a response to the no-confidence vote, but said there were no funds available to increase overtime.

— Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 3 Oct. 2026

Definition of frustrations

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bothers

bothersome

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“Bothers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bothers. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of bothers

verb

noun

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