bothered
Bothered (adj) means Annoyed, troubled, or made anxious by something. Example: “Mia looked bothered by the loud music from next door all evening.”
adj
1
Annoyed, troubled, or made anxious by something.
"Mia looked bothered by the loud music from next door all evening."
"Are you still bothered about what happened at the meeting yesterday?"
"He seemed bothered by the question but didn't say why."
2
(informal) Concerned or interested enough to care, often used in the negative.
"Honestly, I'm not bothered which film we watch tonight."
"He could never be bothered to tidy his bedroom."
"I can't be bothered to cook tonight — let's just order pizza."
How to use bothered
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishFeeling annoyed or troubled by something, or (in "can't be bothered") not caring enough to make the effort.
Common pairings
can't be bothered
hot and bothered
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more bothered
- Superlative
- most bothered
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Mia looked _____ by the loud music from next door all evening.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for bothered
See all rhymes for bothered →Frequently asked questions
What does “bothered” mean?
The word “bothered” means annoyed, troubled, or made anxious by something. In plain terms, feeling annoyed or troubled by something, or (in "can't be bothered") not caring enough to make the effort.
How do you use “bothered” in a sentence?
Here is “bothered” used in a sentence: “He seemed bothered by the question but didn't say why.”
What part of speech is “bothered”?
“Bothered” is an adjective.
Is “bothered” a common word?
“Bothered” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “bothered” have?
“Bothered” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: annoyed, troubled, or made anxious by something.
What is the difference between "bothered" and "annoyed"?
"Annoyed" specifically means mildly angry or irritated, whereas "bothered" is broader and can mean annoyed, troubled, or made anxious. Something can bother you by worrying you, not only by irritating you.
What is the difference between "bothered" and "worried"?
"Worried" focuses on anxiety about something that might go wrong, while "bothered" can cover being annoyed, troubled, or anxious more generally. A small irritation can bother you without being strong enough to call "worried."
