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bother
cool

both·er

bother

 
 
pronunciation:
ba thr
parts of speech:
transitive verb, intransitive verb, noun
features:
Word Combinations (verb, noun), Word Explorer
part of speech: transitive verb
inflections: bothers, bothering, bothered
definition 1: to annoy or irritate, usu. with something minor.
She practices the piano during the afternoons when it doesn't bother anyone.
synonyms:
aggravate, annoy, bug, hassle, nettle, peeve, trouble, vex, worry
similar words:
badger, eat, exasperate, fuss, gripe, harass, hound, irk, irritate, nag, needle, persecute, pester, pick on, plague, provoke, rile, roil
definition 2: to make puzzled, worried, or disturbed.
His answer bothers me because it just doesn't make sense.It bothers me when he's in a strange mood like this.It bothered him to see his mother flirting with the guests.It really bothers me that she stopped taking her pills.Doesn't it bother you that what you're doing is illegal?
synonyms:
concern, confuse, disturb, puzzle, trouble, vex, worry
similar words:
baffle, befuddle, confound, fret, nag, perplex, perturb, pother
definition 3: to disturb or interrupt.
I'm sorry to bother you, but there is an urgent call for you.
synonyms:
annoy, disturb, interrupt, trouble
similar words:
bug, discommode, eat, hassle, impose, worry
 
part of speech: intransitive verb
definition 1: to make an effort; inconvenience oneself.
He rarely bothers to clean up his room.I was surprised that he bothered to bring some flowers.I'm not going to bother calling her when I know she's not there.I clean the floors, but I never bother with the dusting.Thank you for offering to make the bed, but please don't bother.
synonyms:
trouble
similar words:
condescend, deign, endeavor
definition 2: to feel concern or slight worry (usu. used with negative verb).
Please don't bother about me; I can easily walk from here.
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part of speech: noun
definition 1: a person or thing that is troublesome or annoying.
He used to find his little sister a bother, but now he enjoys spending time with her.These kinds of customer complaints are a real bother for the owner.It's too much of a bother for her to respond to all those emails.
synonyms:
annoyance, chafe, headache, nuisance, peeve, pest, plague, trouble, vexation, worry
similar words:
bugaboo, concern, difficulty, gadfly, hassle, imposition, inconvenience, matter, pain, perplexity, problem, thorn, trial, upset
definition 2: a worried or confused state.
Her mother was all in a bother about the wedding invitations.
synonyms:
anxiety, confusion, fret, sweat, tizzy, twitter, upset, vexation
similar words:
botheration, concern, dither, exasperation, flutter, lather, state, worry
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