bothered 1 of 2

adjective

ˈbä-t͟hərd How to pronounce bothered (audio)
Definition of botherednext
as in annoyed
subjected to and reacting with irritation got all hot and bothered by his brother's constant unsolicited advice

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

bothered

2 of 2

verb

past tense of bother
1
as in worried
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

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2
as in irritated
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

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3
as in feared
to experience concern or anxiety just get the basic concept right and don't bother about the details

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4
as in alarmed
to trouble the mind of; to make uneasy the boss's cryptic message about changes to the company bothered me

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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 bothered
Adjective
Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi star as childhood pals turned hot and bothered frenemies having quite the torrid love affair as adults in a sumptuous and quite haughty bad romance. — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 8 May 2026 After a frustrating conversation with a hotel staffer about the air conditioning, a hot and bothered Fuller threw on a ball cap, turned it backward and recorded a rant on his cellphone. — Tia Mitchell, AJC.com, 1 May 2026
Verb
Gee, who used to pop into fraternity parties unannounced to keep tabs on them, said he is not bothered by the reintegration of the three formerly rogue organizations. — Brittany Shammas, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026 This is a dense picture—there’s almost too much to unpack, if you can be bothered to care about any of it. — Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 16 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bothered
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bothered
  1. annoyed
  2. worried
  3. irritated
  4. alarmed
  5. upset
  6. disturbed
  7. bugged
  8. concerned
Adjective
  • Kermode was curious, if not slightly annoyed about all this cryptic communication and the request for a secret rendezvous.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Yamamoto also seemed annoyed that his catcher could be letting his batting woes affect his work behind the plate.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of annoyed
Verb
  • The deal drew concern from legislators and delivery drivers, who worried about reduced competition.
    — Jay Ganglani, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Korpi wanted to leave the experiment because he wasn’t allowed to study for an upcoming graduate school admission test, and was getting worried about being unprepared.
    — Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of worried
Verb
  • Some develop in varicose veins; others form where a needle or IV has irritated a vein.
    — Angela Haupt, Time, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The episode confused and irritated the Red Sox, and following Saturday’s win starting pitcher Sonny Gray acknowledged that Alexander’s antics had provided the club with extra motivation.
    — Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of irritated
Verb
  • The new company has nearly $80 billion in debt, with leverage of six-and-a-half times trailing earnings, a ratio that has alarmed investors and triggered credit rating downgrades.
    — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Abiy’s persistent calls for sovereign access to Eritrea’s Red Sea port of Assab have alarmed Eritrea and deepened the rift.
    — KHALED KAZZIHA, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of alarmed
Adjective
  • The guests seemed less upset by the death than by the news that their infusions would be halted.
    — D. T. Max, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Instead, Brazil’s veteran leftist leader pulled off a stunning upset.
    — Mithil Aggarwal, NBC news, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of upset
Verb
  • An officer responded to PSA, and police said about two pallets of cards were stolen from the truck and a third was disturbed.
    — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
  • As one of the most effective natural sinks for carbon, peatlands could accelerate climate change if disturbed.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of disturbed
Verb
  • And as the team moved into the couple’s guest house on their San Diego rental property, the filmmakers feared that the home was bugged and ordered a device to try to de-bug it, without success.
    — Kirsten Chuba, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2026
  • He’s bugged Jay — the two met online and married two years ago before opening their first restaurant last year — to make sure that includes his crispy duck panang curry.
    — Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of bugged
Verb
  • Opponents of Proposition 40 are concerned that the threat of wealth taxes will lead to billionaires continuing to leave the state, resulting in a long-term decrease in state income tax revenue.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Campaign promises Castro says residents continue to be concerned about development, corruption and public safety.
    — Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of concerned

Browse Nearby Words

botherations
bothered
bothering
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Cite this Entry

“Bothered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bothered. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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