bother

26 synonyms and 1 antonym for bother, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Verb — To annoy or disturb someone, or to cause them trouble.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

trouble pain devil

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

annoy disturb bug hassle inconvenience gravel fuss rag annoyance nuisance

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

pester irritate vex rile nettle nark chafe get to get at put out disoblige infliction botheration

Synonyms by Meaning

1. verb

To annoy or disturb someone, or to cause them trouble.

“The noise from the construction site bothered the neighbors all week.”

annoy disturb trouble pester irritate bug hassle inconvenience pain devil gravel fuss rag annoyance vex rile nettle nark chafe get to get at put out disoblige

Opposites

please

2. noun

A minor annoyance, fuss, or inconvenience.

“It's no bother at all to give you a lift home.”

infliction fuss trouble nuisance annoyance botheration pain hassle

How to use bother

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

can't be bothered bother to do something no bother

Etymology

Borrowed from Scots bauther/bather, of uncertain ultimate origin, possibly related to old words for making a commotion or fuss.

Full origin of bother →

Frequently asked questions

What does “bother” mean?

The word “bother” means to annoy or disturb someone, or to cause them trouble. In plain terms, to annoy someone, or to take the trouble to do something — also used as a mild swear-substitute exclamation, especially in British English.

How do you pronounce “bother”?

“Bother” is pronounced BO-thuh (/ˈbɑðɚ/ in IPA).

How do you use “bother” in a sentence?

Here is “bother” used in a sentence: “The noise from the construction site bothered the neighbors all week.”

What part of speech is “bother”?

Depending on how it is used, “bother” can be a verb, a noun and an intj.

Is “bother” a common word?

“Bother” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

How many meanings does “bother” have?

“Bother” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to annoy or disturb someone, or to cause them trouble.

What is the difference between bother and annoy?

The two overlap closely, but bother is a little softer and broader. To annoy is mainly to irritate someone. To bother can mean to irritate, but also to disturb, trouble, or inconvenience them, as in "sorry to bother you." Bother often carries a gentler, more apologetic tone than annoy.

Can "bother" be used politely?

Yes. Bother is frequently softened into courtesy, as in "I don't want to bother you" or "sorry to bother you." Here it acknowledges that you may be causing a small inconvenience, so it works as a polite way to interrupt or ask for help rather than a harsh complaint.

What does "can't be bothered" mean?

"Can't be bothered" is an informal phrase meaning you lack the will or energy to do something because it feels like too much effort. Here bother shifts to the idea of taking trouble over a task. Saying you can't be bothered to cook means you would rather not make the effort.

People also searched

please pain trouble devil bug gravel disturb inconvenience fuss rag nuisance annoy

Nearby words

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