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Showing results for bother.
Definitions

bother

[both-er] / ˈbɒð ər /
NOUN
trouble, inconvenience
Synonyms
STRONGEST
aggravation
STRONG
ado annoyance anxiety bellyache botheration bustle care concern difficulty distress drag exasperation flurry fuss headache irritant irritation molestation nudge nuisance pain perplexity pest plague pother pressure problem strain to-do trial trouble vexation worriment worry
WEAK
pain in the neck
Antonyms
STRONG
advantage calm calmness comfort contentment delight ease good health happiness health joy peace pleasure tranquility
WEAK
aid convenience help
VERB
harass, annoy; give trouble
Synonyms
STRONGEST
aggravate alarm bore disgust dismay disturb embarrass exacerbate hinder hurt irk irritate nag perplex perturb plague scare torment trouble upset worry
STRONG
afflict agitate badger bedevil browbeat concern cross discommode disconcert displease disquiet distress eat exasperate goad grieve harry impede inconvenience insult molest needle nudge pain pester provoke pursue ride spite tantalize taunt tease vex
WEAK
carp at grate on intrude upon pick on put out
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aid appease assist assuage assure calm comfort delight encourage gladden help make happy order please reassure relieve soothe
STRONG
compliment ease praise satisfy stop support
WEAK
ignore neglect
VERB
take the trouble
Synonyms
STRONGEST
try worry about
WEAK
be concerned about concern oneself exert oneself fuss over go out of one's way make a fuss about make an effort put oneself out take pains
Antonyms
WEAK
aid help ignore neglect please

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Instead of thinking, Why bother?, they think, This could be worth it.

From Slate • Mar. 29, 2026

He does not even bother to tell her he has left, letting her find out from a letter petitioning for an annulment.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

That means Disney and ABC either chose to disregard its existence, or gambled – correctly, it turns out – that the public wouldn’t bother to look too deeply into what happened.

From Salon • Mar. 21, 2026

A crestfallen Jacob Ramsey did not even bother getting to his feet at the Nou Camp.

From BBC • Mar. 18, 2026

I don’t bother asking my dad for a ride to the meeting, I just get on my bike and pedal myself over.

From "Wayward Creatures" by Dayna Lorentz

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.