bother
1 of 2verb
both·er ˈbä-t͟hər 
bothered; bothering ˈbät͟h-riŋ
ˈbä-t͟hə-
transitive verb
1
: to annoy especially by petty provocation : irk
It bothers her when people litter.
bothered by the itchy tag on his shirt
2
: to intrude upon : pester
Don't bother him when he's working.
3
: to cause to be somewhat anxious or concerned
My stomach is bothering me.
—often used interjectionally Oh, bother!
intransitive verb
1
: to become concerned
wouldn't bother with details
2
: to take pains (see pain entry 1 sense 3) : take the trouble
never bothered to ask
bother
2 of 2noun
1
a
: a state of petty discomfort, annoyance, or worry
when scenery gets mixed up with our personal bothers all the virtue goes out of it—
Edith Wharton
Edith Wharton b
: something that causes petty annoyance or worry
Fixing it would be too much of a bother.
Sorry to be such a bother, but I need your help.
2
: fuss, inconvenience
doesn't want the bother of filling out all the forms again
Synonyms
Verb
- bug
- chivy
- chivvy
- disturb
- intrude (upon)
- pester
Noun
- ado
- alarums and excursions
- ballyhoo
- blather
- bluster
- bobbery
- bustle
- clatter
- clutter [chiefly dialect]
- coil
- commotion
- corroboree [Australian]
- disturbance
- do [chiefly dialect]
- foofaraw
- fun
- furor
- furore
- fuss
- helter-skelter
- hoo-ha
- hoo-hah
- hoopla
- hubble-bubble
- hubbub
- hullabaloo
- hurly
- hurly-burly
- hurricane
- hurry
- hurry-scurry
- hurry-skurry
- kerfuffle [chiefly British]
- moil
- pandemonium
- pother
- row
- ruckus
- ruction
- rumpus
- shindy
- splore [Scottish]
- squall
- stew
- stir
- storm
- to-do
- tumult
- turmoil
- uproar
- welter
- whirl
- williwaw
- zoo
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb He's so easygoing. Nothing seems to bother him. Something he said at the meeting has been bothering me. The entire car trip was filled with complaints like, “Mom, David keeps bothering me!” and “Will you tell him to quit bothering me?”. Mother used to cook elaborate dinners, but with only herself to cook for, she doesn't bother anymore. “Should I call later?” “No, don't bother.” I'm not going to bother with the details. Noun Replacing the windows could be more of a bother than it's worth. I know what a bother driving into the city can be this time of day. “Sorry to bother you.” “That's okay, it's no bother at all.” I considered replacing that part of the floor but decided it wasn't worth the bother. He doesn't want the bother of filling out all those forms again. Will you mail this for me? It will save me the bother of going to the post office. See More
Recent Examples on the WebRyan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2023 The heat doesn’t really bother me for the most part. —Ben Thomas | Bthomas@al.com, al, 17 Jan. 2023 Well, there’s your answer: Hardy was hoping that a player with someone with length and effort would be able to bother DeRozan and LaVine. —Andy Larsen, The Salt Lake Tribune, 7 Jan. 2023 Colder weather doesn’t bother them (although being inside does present serious challenges to survival – too dry, warm and lack of food). —oregonlive, 5 Nov. 2022 So no, the depiction of violence in birth does not bother me. —Amanda Hess, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2022 My big question, then, is: Why bother making anything? —Mike Postalakis, SPIN, 3 Aug. 2022 These days, the criticism fortunately doesn't bother her much. —Taiia Smart Young, refinery29.com, 5 July 2022 But the flood of champion hands doesn’t bother me, and the clock doesn’t trip me up, either, although this one is harder, with 25 minutes allotted. —Barbara Bourland, Good Housekeeping, 27 June 2022 Quartz Staff, Quartz, 3 Nov. 2022 The cold didn’t much bother Engstrom, who had advanced multiple sclerosis, used an electronic wheelchair and had little feeling in his legs. —Katelyn Ferral, Journal Sentinel, 21 Dec. 2022 Both of us agree the shrimp is sweet and springy and the fried chicken is a why bother. —Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 25 Nov. 2022 Publicly, the Díaz regime tried to reassure Mexicans and U.S. investors that the magonistas were only a minor bother. —Geraldo Cadava, The New Yorker, 5 Oct. 2022 The restaurant offers casual, all-day dining and prime views of the Forest Oasis waterpark and lazy river, allowing guests to find provisions without the bother of sporting a shirt or shoes. —Megha Mcswain, Chron, 19 Dec. 2022 The entire custom of giving and accepting presents is being gutted to remove from it the bother of thought and effort. —Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 24 Oct. 2022 Restaurants aren’t just places that save you the bother of cooking at home. —Ed Caesar, The New Yorker, 15 Oct. 2022 Beer exported to the mainland must find its way over six miles of rough seas (which, Sam points out, saves the bother of shaking the casks). —Oliver Smith, Outside Online, 15 Jan. 2020 See More
Verb
That fact didn’t seem to bother Enfield, who shook off a question about whether Johnson could be kept on the floor without providing much offense. —Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2023 The heat doesn’t really bother me for the most part. —Ben Thomas | Bthomas@al.com, al, 17 Jan. 2023 Well, there’s your answer: Hardy was hoping that a player with someone with length and effort would be able to bother DeRozan and LaVine. —Andy Larsen, The Salt Lake Tribune, 7 Jan. 2023 Colder weather doesn’t bother them (although being inside does present serious challenges to survival – too dry, warm and lack of food). —oregonlive, 5 Nov. 2022 So no, the depiction of violence in birth does not bother me. —Amanda Hess, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2022 My big question, then, is: Why bother making anything? —Mike Postalakis, SPIN, 3 Aug. 2022 These days, the criticism fortunately doesn't bother her much. —Taiia Smart Young, refinery29.com, 5 July 2022 But the flood of champion hands doesn’t bother me, and the clock doesn’t trip me up, either, although this one is harder, with 25 minutes allotted. —Barbara Bourland, Good Housekeeping, 27 June 2022 Noun
The idea being, again, like there’s no real chance at mobility anyway, so why bother. —Quartz Staff, Quartz, 3 Nov. 2022 The cold didn’t much bother Engstrom, who had advanced multiple sclerosis, used an electronic wheelchair and had little feeling in his legs. —Katelyn Ferral, Journal Sentinel, 21 Dec. 2022 Both of us agree the shrimp is sweet and springy and the fried chicken is a why bother. —Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 25 Nov. 2022 Publicly, the Díaz regime tried to reassure Mexicans and U.S. investors that the magonistas were only a minor bother. —Geraldo Cadava, The New Yorker, 5 Oct. 2022 The restaurant offers casual, all-day dining and prime views of the Forest Oasis waterpark and lazy river, allowing guests to find provisions without the bother of sporting a shirt or shoes. —Megha Mcswain, Chron, 19 Dec. 2022 The entire custom of giving and accepting presents is being gutted to remove from it the bother of thought and effort. —Jacobina Martin, Washington Post, 24 Oct. 2022 Restaurants aren’t just places that save you the bother of cooking at home. —Ed Caesar, The New Yorker, 15 Oct. 2022 Beer exported to the mainland must find its way over six miles of rough seas (which, Sam points out, saves the bother of shaking the casks). —Oliver Smith, Outside Online, 15 Jan. 2020 See More Word History
Etymology
Verb
of obscure origin
Note: Early attestations strongly associate the word with Ireland, though if bother is authentically Hiberno-English, the interdental consonant must be secondary, perhaps by association with earlier pother entry 1, itself of obscure origin. A hypothetical link with Irish bodhar "deaf, confused" is improbable given that the internal dental consonant in Irish was lost by 1300.
Noun
noun derivative of bother entry 1
First Known Use
Verb
circa 1745, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Noun
1761, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Phrases Containing bother
Kids Definition
bother
1 of 2 verb both·er ˈbät͟h-ər
bothered; bothering -(ə-)riŋ
1
a
: to upset often with minor details : annoy
b
: to intrude upon : interrupt
2
a
: to cause to be worried or concerned
b
: to become concerned
3
: to take the trouble : make an effort
don't bother to knock
bother
2 of 2 noun1
a
: the state of being bothered
b
: someone or something that bothers in a small way
what a bother a cold can be
2
: commotion sense 2, fuss
bother 1 of 2
verb
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
Relevance
- worry
- disturb
- annoy
- pester
- trouble
- harass
- bug
- provoke
- irritate
- torment
- chivvy
- inconvenience
- irk
- hassle
- aggravate
- chivy
- fret
- intrude (upon)
- exasperate
- vex
- get
- bedevil
- anger
- dun
- rile
- plague
- rankle
- chafe
- gnaw
- invade
- devil
- dog
- infuriate
- persecute
- gall
- beset
- distress
- put out
- afflict
- antagonize
- peeve
- agitate
- pique
- grate
- besiege
- enrage
- roil
- perturb
- obtrude
- beleaguer
- encroach
- outrage
- inflame
- nettle
- infringe
- incense
- trespass
- madden
- butt in
- rasp
- cut in (on)
- enflame
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- forget
- ignore
- leave
- disregard
- slight
- please
- oblige
- appease
- placate
- satisfy
- disarm
- delight
- gratify
- mollify
- conciliate
- content
- comfort
- console
- gladden
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 Synonyms & Similar Words
- annoy
- irritate
- persecute
- bug
- get
- aggravate
- worry
- eat
- irk
- exasperate
- infuriate
- vex
- spite
- rile
- plague
- tease
- provoke
- chafe
- grate
- insult
- get to
- itch
- gripe
- gall
- anger
- put out
- peeve
- offend
- harass
- nark
- pique
- frost
- wear on
- ruffle
- upset
- nag
- hassle
- enrage
- rub the wrong way
- nettle
- pester
- rouse
- heckle
- agitate
- stick in one's craw
- rasp
- get on one's nerves
- get one's goat
- burn (up)
- hack (off)
- set one's teeth on edge
- badger
- unsettle
- antagonize
- outrage
- devil
- rankle
- harry
- inflame
- distress
- fret
- perturb
- discomfort
- bait
- exercise
- undo
- affront
- unhinge
- roil
- incense
- miff
- madden
- hagride
- disquiet
- ballyrag
- bullyrag
- enflame
- discompose
- freak (out)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- please
- oblige
- appease
- placate
- satisfy
- pacify
- conciliate
- delight
- gratify
- assure
- mollify
- reassure
- propitiate
- cheer
- soothe
- content
- comfort
- gladden
- quiet
- console
- solace
3
as in to fret
to experience concern or anxiety just get the basic concept right and don't bother about the details Synonyms & Similar Words
- worry
- fret
- trouble
- fear
- fuss
- stress
- sweat
- care a hang
- stew
- sweat blood
- give a hang
- long
- agonize
- yearn
- chafe
- pine
- despair
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- accept
- take
- tolerate
- endure
- bear
- abide
- sustain
- stick out
- stomach
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
- worry
- disturb
- distract
- concern
- alarm
- annoy
- agitate
- unsettle
- upset
- plague
- anger
- irritate
- haunt
- confuse
- distress
- fuss
- perturb
- discomfort
- embarrass
- derail
- dismay
- undo
- ail
- exercise
- discompose
- unhinge
- rattle
- pester
- frazzle
- disquiet
- discourage
- flurry
- aggravate
- irk
- harass
- weird out
- exasperate
- hagride
- vex
- distemper
- get
- rile
- fret
- chafe
- bedevil
- harry
- put off
- gall
- bug
- put out
- peeve
- freak (out)
- fluster
- alarum
- faze
- pique
- confound
- grate
- chivvy
- mortify
- disconcert
- daunt
- discomfit
- dishearten
- unnerve
- chivy
- shake up
- nettle
- dispirit
- nonplus
- discountenance
- abash
- demoralize
- jar
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- settle
- soothe
- compose
- alleviate
- quiet
- allay
- assuage
- calm
- placate
- appease
- tranquilize
- tranquillize
- mollify
- pacify
- conciliate
- propitiate
bother
2 of 2noun
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
- hurry
- fuss
- commotion
- stir
- disturbance
- noise
- turmoil
- racket
- do
- fun
- clatter
- clutter
- storm
- pother
- row
- ado
- hoopla
- zoo
- hubbub
- hurricane
- bustle
- ruckus
- hullabaloo
- blather
- ballyhoo
- hoo-hah
- coil
- rumpus
- splore
- furore
- whirl
- hurry-skurry
- kerfuffle
- hoo-ha
- bluster
- roar
- hurly
- shindy
- ruction
- tumult
- moil
- hurry-scurry
- bobbery
- uproar
- stew
- foofaraw
- squall
- furor
- alarums and excursions
- pandemonium
- corroboree
- flurry
- welter
- hurly-burly
- helter-skelter
- howl
- to-do
- upheaval
- clamor
- din
- outcry
- williwaw
- hubble-bubble
- fret
- unrest
- cacophony
- flutter
- disorder
- hassle
- fray
- brawl
- outbreak
- eruption
- dither
- outburst
- hue and cry
- scuffle
- lather
- fever
- tizzy
- melee
- fracas
- mêlée
- flare-up
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- rest
- peace
- hush
- quiet
- order
- calm
- stillness
- tranquility
- tranquillity
- quietude
- orderliness
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
- nuisance
- annoyance
- annoyer
- tease
- pest
- headache
- pain
- gadfly
- nudnick
- pain in the neck
- nudnik
- gnawer
- teaser
- plague
- persecutor
- hassle
- harrier
- heckler
- interrupter
- torturer
- harasser
- interruptor
- tormentor
- molester
- tormenter
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- charmer
- smoothie
- comforter
- soother
- solacer
- smoothy
3
as in headache
something that is a source of irritation returning damaged goods is a real bother Synonyms & Similar Words
- headache
- worry
- nuisance
- irk
- thorn
- inconvenience
- problem
- frustration
- annoyance
- rub
- irritant
- hassle
- aggravation
- insult
- peeve
- trouble
- bugbear
- exasperation
- hair shirt
- vexation
- pest
- ruffle
- botheration
- upset
- discomfort
- burden
- trial
- menace
- aggro
- plague
- curse
- affront
- anxiety
- predicament
- cross
- sore
- pinprick
- offence
- plight
- offender
- annoyer
- albatross
- disturber
- pet peeve
- tribulation
- millstone
- offense
- fleabite
- harasser
- hang-up
- mischief
- pandora's box
- affliction
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- pleasure
- joy
- delight
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
- frustration
- irritation
- annoyance
- exasperation
- displeasure
- grief
- trouble
- aggravation
- upset
- discomfort
- anger
- vexation
- botheration
- pip
- indignation
- agitation
- distress
- aggro
- irritability
- pet
- outrage
- pique
- disturbance
- chafe
- irritableness
- resentment
- gall
- perturbation
- umbrage
- ire
- snappishness
- peeve
- huff
- dudgeon
- dander
- irateness
- angriness
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- pleasure
- delight
Synonym Chooser
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
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
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
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