Bore vs. Chore — What's the Difference?
By Maham Liaqat & Fiza Rafique — Updated on April 5, 2024
A bore is something or someone that causes ennui or is tediously uninteresting, whereas a chore is a routine task, often unpleasant but necessary.
Difference Between Bore and Chore
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A bore refers to a person, event, or situation that is dull and uninteresting, failing to capture the attention or interest of an individual. It evokes feelings of weariness and indifference, often due to a lack of novelty or engagement. For example, a monotonous lecture or a person who talks excessively about themselves without regard for others' interest can be considered a bore. On the other hand, a chore is a task or duty that is typically routine and obligatory, requiring effort and not necessarily offering any intrinsic enjoyment. Chores are often associated with household duties, such as cleaning, cooking, and gardening, but can extend to any task perceived as tedious or burdensome yet necessary for personal or professional reasons.
While a bore is characterized by its ability to induce boredom due to a lack of stimulation or interest, a chore is defined by its necessity and the effort required to complete it, often without the promise of immediate reward or pleasure. This distinction highlights the difference in how these terms are applied to experiences and tasks, with one describing the quality of an experience and the other the nature of an obligation.
Culturally, being a bore is often viewed negatively, as it implies an inability to engage or entertain others, reflecting poorly on one's social skills or self-awareness. Conversely, engaging in chores, despite their mundane nature, is culturally seen as a responsible and necessary aspect of daily life, contributing to personal discipline and the well-being of a household or community.
Moreover, the emotional response to a bore versus a chore differs significantly. Encountering a bore might lead to feelings of frustration or disinterest, prompting one to avoid similar situations or individuals in the future. Facing a chore, however, often elicits a sense of duty or obligation, with the satisfaction derived more from its completion and the benefits it brings, rather than the task itself.
While both bores and chores can be subjective—what one person finds boring another might find interesting, and what one considers a chore another might enjoy as a pastime—the general consensus aligns with the definitions that distinguish between the lack of engagement and the sense of duty.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Something or someone dull and uninteresting.
A routine, often unpleasant task that is necessary.
Characteristic
Induces boredom due to lack of stimulation.
Defined by its obligatory nature and effort required.
Cultural Perception
Viewed negatively, implying poor social engagement.
Seen as responsible, contributing to discipline and well-being.
Emotional Response
Frustration, disinterest.
Sense of duty, satisfaction from completion.
Subjectivity
Varies based on individual interests and engagement.
Varies; some may find pleasure in tasks considered chores by others.
Compare with Definitions
Bore
A bore is someone or something that fails to arouse interest.
The dinner party was a bore, with little to no engaging conversation.
Chore
A chore is a routine task, often seen as tedious but necessary.
Doing the dishes every night feels like an endless chore.
Bore
Bores induce feelings of weariness and ennui.
That play was such a bore, I almost fell asleep.
Chore
It encompasses duties around personal and professional life.
Filing reports on time is a chore that he dreads at work.
Bore
Being considered a bore reflects poorly on social skills.
He’s worried his interest in ancient coins might make him a bore at parties.
Chore
Chores are associated with responsibility and discipline.
She considers her weekend gardening as a chore that brings her joy.
Bore
It implies tediousness and lack of novelty.
Listening to him recount his daily routine in detail was an absolute bore.
Chore
The perception of what constitutes a chore varies.
What's a mundane chore to some can be a relaxing activity to others.
Bore
Avoiding becoming a bore involves engaging others’ interests.
She tries to include diverse topics in conversations to avoid being a bore.
Chore
Completing a chore can provide a sense of accomplishment.
Finishing the laundry was a chore, but having clean clothes is worth it.
Bore
Make (a hole) in something with a tool or by digging
The drill can bore through rock
Bore a hole in the wall to pass the cable through
His eyes bored into hers
Chore
A routine or minor duty or task.
Bore
(of an athlete or racehorse) push another competitor out of the way.
Chore
An unpleasant or burdensome task
What a chore it was cleaning out the garage.
Bore
Cause (someone) to feel weary and uninterested by dull talk or behaviour
Timid women quickly bore her silly
She is too polite to bore us with anecdotes
Chore
A task, especially a difficult, unpleasant, or routine one.
Washing dishes is a chore, but we cannot just stop eating.
The children were made to do their daily chores before being allowed to play games.
I used to enjoy being self-employed, but it's become a bit of a chore recently.
Bore
The hollow part inside a gun barrel or other tube.
Chore
To do chores.
Bore
Short for borehole
Chore
To steal.
Bore
A person whose talk or behaviour is dull and uninteresting
He can be a crashing bore
Chore
A small job; in the pl., the regular or daily light work of a household or farm, either within or without doors.
Bore
A steep-fronted wave caused by the meeting of two tides or by the constriction of a tide rushing up a narrow estuary.
Chore
A choir or chorus.
Bore
To make a hole in or through, with or as if with a drill.
Chore
To do chores.
Bore
To form (a tunnel, for example) by drilling, digging, or burrowing.
Chore
A specific piece of work required to be done as a duty or for a specific fee;
Estimates of the city's loss on that job ranged as high as a million dollars
The job of repairing the engine took several hours
The endless task of classifying the samples
The farmer's morning chores
Bore
To make a hole in or through something with or as if with a drill
"three types of protein that enable the cells to bore in and out of blood vessels" (Elisabeth Rosenthal).
Bore
To proceed or advance steadily or laboriously
A destroyer boring through heavy seas.
Bore
To make weary by being dull, repetitive, or tedious
The movie bored us.
Bore
Past tense of bear1.
Bore
A hole or passage made by or as if by use of a drill.
Bore
A hollow, usually cylindrical chamber or barrel, as of a firearm.
Bore
The interior diameter of a hole, tube, or cylinder.
Bore
The caliber of a firearm.
Bore
A drilling tool.
Bore
One that is wearingly dull, repetitive, or tedious.
Bore
See tidal bore.
Bore
(transitive) To inspire boredom in somebody.
Reading books really bores me, films are much more exciting.
Bore someone to death
Bore
(transitive) To make a hole through something.
Bore
(intransitive) To make a hole with, or as if with, a boring instrument; to cut a circular hole by the rotary motion of a tool.
To bore for water or oil
An insect bores into a tree.
Bore
(transitive) To form or enlarge (something) by means of a boring instrument or apparatus.
To bore a steam cylinder or a gun barrel; to bore a hole
Bore
(transitive) To make (a passage) by laborious effort, as in boring; to force a narrow and difficult passage through.
To bore one's way through a crowd
Bore
(intransitive) To be pierced or penetrated by an instrument that cuts as it turns.
This timber does not bore well.
Bore
(intransitive) To push forward in a certain direction with laborious effort.
Bore
(obsolete) To fool; to trick.
Bore
A hole drilled or milled through something, or (by extension) its diameter.
The bore of a cannon
Bore
The tunnel inside of a gun's barrel through which the bullet travels when fired, or (by extension) its diameter.
Bore
A tool, such as an auger, for making a hole by boring.
Bore
A capped well drilled to tap artesian water.
Bore
The place where such a well exists.
Bore
One who inspires boredom or lack of interest; an uninteresting person.
My neighbour is such a bore when he talks about his coin collection.
Bore
Something dull or uninteresting.
What a bore that movie was! There was no action, and the dialogue was totally uncreative.
Bore
Calibre; importance.
Bore
A sudden and rapid flow of tide occurring in certain rivers and estuaries which rolls up as a wave.
Bore
To perforate or penetrate, as a solid body, by turning an auger, gimlet, drill, or other instrument; to make a round hole in or through; to pierce; as, to bore a plank.
I'll believe as soon this whole earth may be bored.
Bore
To form or enlarge by means of a boring instrument or apparatus; as, to bore a steam cylinder or a gun barrel; to bore a hole.
Short but very powerful jaws, by means whereof the insect can bore, as with a centerbit, a cylindrical passage through the most solid wood.
Bore
To make (a passage) by laborious effort, as in boring; as, to bore one's way through a crowd; to force a narrow and difficult passage through.
Bore
To weary by tedious iteration or by dullness; to tire; to trouble; to vex; to annoy; to pester.
He bores me with some trick.
Used to come and bore me at rare intervals.
Bore
To befool; to trick.
I am abused, betrayed; I am laughed at, scorned,Baffled and bored, it seems.
Bore
To make a hole or perforation with, or as with, a boring instrument; to cut a circular hole by the rotary motion of a tool; as, to bore for water or oil (i. e., to sink a well by boring for water or oil); to bore with a gimlet; to bore into a tree (as insects).
Bore
To be pierced or penetrated by an instrument that cuts as it turns; as, this timber does not bore well, or is hard to bore.
Bore
To push forward in a certain direction with laborious effort.
They take their flight . . . boring to the west.
Bore
To shoot out the nose or toss it in the air; - said of a horse.
Bore
A hole made by boring; a perforation.
Bore
The internal cylindrical cavity of a gun, cannon, pistol, or other firearm, or of a pipe or tube.
The bores of wind instruments.
Love's counselor should fill the bores of hearing.
Bore
The size of a hole; the interior diameter of a tube or gun barrel; the caliber.
Bore
A tool for making a hole by boring, as an auger.
Bore
Caliber; importance.
Yet are they much too light for the bore of the matter.
Bore
A person or thing that wearies by prolixity or dullness; a tiresome person or affair; any person or thing which causes ennui.
It is as great a bore as to hear a poet read his own verses.
Bore
A tidal flood which regularly or occasionally rushes into certain rivers of peculiar configuration or location, in one or more waves which present a very abrupt front of considerable height, dangerous to shipping, as at the mouth of the Amazon, in South America, the Hoogly and Indus, in India, and the Tsien-tang, in China.
Bore
A person who evokes boredom
Bore
A high wave (often dangerous) caused by tidal flow (as by colliding tidal currents or in a narrow estuary)
Bore
Diameter of a tube or gun barrel
Bore
A hole or passage made by a drill; usually made for exploratory purposes
Bore
Cause to be bored
Bore
Make a hole with a pointed power or hand tool;
Don't drill here, there's a gas pipe
Drill a hole into the wall
Drill for oil
Common Curiosities
Why are chores necessary?
Chores are necessary for maintaining cleanliness, order, and functionality in personal and communal spaces, contributing to overall well-being.
Can a person be a chore?
While typically used to describe tasks, describing a person as a chore metaphorically implies that interacting with them requires effort and feels obligatory.
Is it possible to find enjoyment in chores?
Yes, many people find a sense of satisfaction, relaxation, or accomplishment in performing certain chores, transforming them into enjoyable activities.
How can one avoid being a bore?
By being mindful of others’ interests, engaging in diverse topics of conversation, and showing enthusiasm, one can avoid being perceived as a bore.
What makes something a bore?
Something is considered a bore if it is dull, uninteresting, and fails to engage or stimulate interest.
How do cultural perceptions of bores and chores differ?
Cultural perceptions vary, but generally, bores are viewed negatively for their lack of engagement, while chores are respected as part of responsible living.
What impact does technology have on chores?
Technology can significantly reduce the effort and time required for chores, making them more manageable and sometimes even enjoyable.
How can chores impact personal growth?
Regularly completing chores can develop discipline, time management skills, and a sense of responsibility, contributing to personal growth and independence.
Why might someone prefer chores over leisure activities?
Some may find a sense of purpose or achievement in completing chores, valuing productivity and the tangible results they provide over leisure.
Can a task be both a bore and a chore?
Yes, a task can be both uninteresting and obligatory, making it both a bore to endure and a chore to complete.
How does one cope with boring chores?
Strategies include listening to music, turning chores into a game, rewarding oneself afterwards, or focusing on the positive outcomes of the task.
How do societal values influence what is considered a chore?
Societal values and norms dictate the importance and necessity of certain tasks, thereby influencing what is considered a chore within a community.
What distinguishes a boring task from a chore?
A boring task simply fails to engage, while a chore is defined by its necessity and the sense of duty it carries, regardless of its interest level.
What role do chores play in family dynamics?
Chores can teach children about responsibility, teamwork, and the importance of contributing to the household, strengthening family bonds.
Can making a task less of a bore improve its perception as a chore?
Yes, by making a task more engaging or enjoyable, its perception as a tedious chore can be lessened, making it more pleasant to complete.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
