What's the difference between annoy and bother?

Annoy


Definition:

  • (n.) To disturb or irritate, especially by continued or repeated acts; to tease; to ruffle in mind; to vex; as, I was annoyed by his remarks.
  • (n.) To molest, incommode, or harm; as, to annoy an army by impeding its march, or by a cannonade.
  • (n.) A feeling of discomfort or vexation caused by what one dislikes; also, whatever causes such a feeling; as, to work annoy.

Example Sentences:

  • (1) Asked about white predominance in the sport, South African rugby journalist Paul Dobson replied: "If you suggest that again I'll get annoyed and put the phone down.
  • (2) He was 'annoyed' after a phone call with Maxine Carr, in which she'd told him she was going out 'again' with her mother that evening in Grimsby ('Do you like to control people?'
  • (3) When my pictures were published, some Star Wars fans were annoyed that the house in this picture had been left in such a state of disrepair.
  • (4) One of the most annoying complications of rhinoplasty is the supra-tip hump (pollybeak).
  • (5) Indeed, while people might be annoyed or alarmed at the idea of being given placebos, medics probably wouldn't need to were it not for the modern blight of the Worried Well clogging up consulting rooms.
  • (6) Although mumbling is frustrating and annoying at times, it may be a helpful clue to some of the client's most anxiety-provoking thoughts or feelings.
  • (7) Later, when Leven moved to another squat, in Maida Vale, London, he suggested they bring in a bass player and percussionist to form a band, and they started rehearsing "with mattresses around the walls to deaden the sound, but still annoying the neighbours".
  • (8) It’s annoying that we haven’t stretched our lead but we’ve got to accept that and take it forward.
  • (9) It is difficult to prove that noise is detrimental to our health; many people are annoyed by noise; however, only particular groups (children, the elderly, the handicapped, people who wear a hearing aid, people with heart disease) are affected as far as health is concerned, and it is these people who require special protection.
  • (10) Noise in open-plan computer rooms and annoyance and perceived deterioration in performance associated with it also appears to be a problem that may be similarly categorized.
  • (11) The program kept asking what my surname at birth was - annoying, since, despite getting married in 1994, I've had the same surname all my life.
  • (12) Our government understands that we have to help but if they send troops officially, that would annoy Europe, and Nato.
  • (13) Rather than getting annoyed, you’re feeling comforted.
  • (14) Amazon and MasterCard don't like it either, and their clients were probably annoyed.
  • (15) His annoyance was memorably captured by a BBC film crew for a documentary.
  • (16) And you can see that some writers' talents are fed by great exposure to society and then there are others – DH Lawrence is a good example – who think they want acceptance but actually they can't stand it and they've got to annoy people by pointing out uncomfortable things, and that's more me.
  • (17) Merkel will be annoyed that a group set up by the Tories has given a platform to her opponents.
  • (18) Information on safety and side effects is also presented, such as a possible increase in serum cholesterol levels and annoying side effects that may severely limit widespread use of this food supplement.
  • (19) After the second such call, my wife became annoyed at the intrusion he was making in our weekend.
  • (20) Irritations are mainly due to the particulate phase of environmental tobacco smoke, whereas the gas phase is to a large extent responsible for annoyance.

Bother


Definition:

  • (v. t.) To annoy; to trouble; to worry; to perplex. See Pother.
  • (v. i.) To feel care or anxiety; to make or take trouble; to be troublesome.
  • (n.) One who, or that which, bothers; state of perplexity or annoyance; embarrassment; worry; disturbance; petty trouble; as, to be in a bother.

Example Sentences:

  • (1) Why bother to put the investigators, prosecutors, judge, jury and me through this if one person can set justice aside, with the swipe of a pen.
  • (2) Unless you are part of some Unite-esque scheme to join up as part of a grand revolutionary plan, why would you bother shelling out for a membership card?
  • (3) Dinner is the usual “international” menu that few will bother with given the wealth of choice nearby.
  • (4) Despite excellent control of acute-stage emesis, some patients are still bothered by delayed emesis occurring more than 24 hours after cisplatin administration.
  • (5) Given this bipartisan strategy to minimise commitments, there is little wonder that voter turnout also reached a historical low, with less than two thirds bothering to vote in the east.
  • (6) I do think it is set fair but I am more bothered about the eurozone.
  • (7) These were: urinary symptoms, degree of bother due to urinary symptoms, BPH-specific interference with activities, general psychological well-being, worries and concerns, and sexual satisfaction.
  • (8) Interactive guide Election countdown: the key dates up to June 7 Interactive quizzes Can you be bothered?
  • (9) TV's Jeremy Paxman didn't even bother hiding his disdain for the introduction of weather reports to Newsnight – "It's April.
  • (10) And indeed both E.ON and SSE offer these for those who bother to switch,” he added.
  • (11) After the first couple days like everyone was like: 'Ah, I can't be bothered.
  • (12) Had they bothered to inquire of a veteran from the ranks, they might have heard how exasperating it is to see the dainty long-range patriots of Labour thrashing it out with the staunch gutter jingoists of the Conservative party – and barely a non-commissioned vet among them.
  • (13) I have been noticing, with sadness, that politicians do not even bother invoking the American Dream anymore.
  • (14) "No one ever bothered him at the suppers," former pastor Bob Moyer of Hartland told the paper.
  • (15) Refusing to play in the Seven Kingdoms league, the all black kit helps the team in matches against Wildling FC, who never bother to wear the same colours.
  • (16) No one else need bother to paint them as a ramshackle and rancorous rabble marooned in the past and without a plausible account of the future.
  • (17) With the coming of the meritocracy, the now leaderless masses were partially disfranchised; as time has gone by, more and more of them have been disengaged, and disaffected to the extent of not even bothering to vote.
  • (18) A cursory web search would have helped but fewer of us bother when the news is relatively inconsequential.
  • (19) What bothers me is that a club would contact the manager of a national team without first notifying the Federation.
  • (20) Arsenal responded in the only way they know, with Ramsey, Mesut Özil, Jack Wilshere and Oxlade-Chamberlain all involved in intricate passing patterns on the edge of the area, though there was no end product to bother Tim Howard apart from another long shot from Oxlade-Chamberlain that drifted wide.