as in harassment
the act of making unwelcome intrusions upon another
one more bothering, and I'm going to kick you out of here
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in worrying
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in bugging
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in fearing
to experience concern or anxiety
just get the basic concept right and don't bother about the details
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in distracting
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
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 bothering
Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 4 Jan. 2026
Ask her if anything is bothering her.
—Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 24 Dec. 2025
What that translates to is that the generator and the propulsors can do their thing without bothering one another in flight.
—New Atlas, 14 Dec. 2025
Any offensive struggles certainly weren’t bothering Miller on the other side of the court — the true mark of a two-way player.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 13 Dec. 2025
Treatment starts with testing to make sure juniper is the allergen that's bothering you.
—Nicole Villalpando, Austin American Statesman, 8 Dec. 2025
What specifically was bothering you?
—CBS News, 7 Dec. 2025
The family has dinner together but Anna says her braces are bothering her and leaves the family early to return to her room, Barbara told ABC News.
—Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 27 Nov. 2025
And on the other hand, philosophers were in their libraries generating answers to the why, rarely bothering to see how their answers worked in the real world.
—Literary Hub, 19 Nov. 2025
Verb
Ibrahim keeps bothering me endlessly, touching my leg and thigh.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for bothering
Noun
-
Zabik is facing two counts of inciting destruction of life or property, menacing, and harassment.—
-
And Kelly keeps cashing in, converting Hegseth’s harassment into campaign donations.—
Verb
-
In Tokyo, travelers can explore the bustling neighborhoods of Shibuya, Harajuku, and Shinjuku, admire cutting-edge architecture, stroll through peaceful Japanese gardens, and experience vibrant nightlife without worrying about personal safety.—
-
Devices stay online without worrying about draining the car’s starter battery.—
Verb
-
That thing’s been bugging on him for a while.—
-
Then Julian dropped one of his wireless earbuds into Olympia’s purse, using it as a crude bugging device.—
Verb
-
Writing essays, in the same way, lubricates my writing of fiction and vice versa—by distracting me and taking my thoughts elsewhere.—
-
The glare from the sun had been reflecting in the lenses and distracting Smith.—
Noun
-
Investigators said the fire was sparked following a domestic disturbance that led a woman to burn her boyfriend’s clothing in a barbecue pit on an apartment patio, FOX26 Houston reported.—
-
The country’s strong standing in safety could stem from several factors, including societal structure, strict laws, and cultural focus on harmony, which keep street crime and public disturbances very low.—
Verb
-
Sometimes, rage bait can be relatively harmless – a recipe that contains disgusting food combinations or someone annoying their pet, partner or sibling.—
-
But what’s been annoying me even more is that these women should have been trained by producers to start recording on their own cell phones if drama starts to unfold after cameras go down.—
Verb
-
The play-calling of Payton remains irritating and confusing.—
-
Plus, if wind picks up, the leaves can wind up all over the neighborhood, irritating your neighbors.—
Verb
-
At a minimum, the investigation should be conducted swiftly, and Maryland residents should be informed of accountability steps taken to address these concerning allegations.—
-
His daughter then explained Tate's content to him, leading Graham to find the influencer's reach particularly concerning, given that Tate is also under multiple investigations for human trafficking and rape.—
Cite this Entry
“Bothering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bothering. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share