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Bother vs Pester - What's the difference?

bother | pester |

Pester is a synonym of bother.



In transitive terms the difference between bother and pester

is that bother is to annoy, to disturb, to irritate while pester is to bother, harass or annoy persistently.

As a noun bother

is fuss, ado.

As an interjection bother

is a mild expression of annoyance.

bother

English

Verb

(en verb)
  • To annoy, to disturb, to irritate.
  • Would it bother you if I smoked?
  • To feel care or anxiety; to make or take trouble; to be troublesome.
  • Why do I even bother to try?
  • * Henry James
  • without bothering about it
  • To do something which is of negligible inconvenience.
  • You didn't even bother to close the door.

    Synonyms

    * (annoy, disturb ): annoy, disturb, irritate, put out, vex * See also

    Usage notes

    * This is a catenative verb that takes the to infinitive'' or the ''gerund (-ing) . See

    Noun

  • Fuss, ado.
  • There was a bit of bother at the hairdresser's when they couldn't find my appointment in the book.
  • * '>citation
  • Trouble, inconvenience.
  • Yes, I can do that for you - it's no bother .

    Interjection

  • A mild expression of annoyance.
  • * 1926 , A A Milne, Winnie the Pooh'', Methuen & Co., Ltd., Chapter 2 ''...in which Pooh goes visiting and gets into a tight place :
  • "Oh, help!" said Pooh. "I'd better go back."
    "Oh, bother !" said Pooh. "I shall have to go on."
    "I can't do either!" said Pooh. "Oh, help and bother !"

    Synonyms

    * blast, dang (US ), darn

    pester

    English

    Alternative forms

    * pestre (obsolete)

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To bother, harass or annoy persistently.
  • Synonyms

    * badger * bug * hound

    Anagrams

    * * English transitive verbs ----