sore

[sawr, sohr]

adjective

sorer, sorest 

1. physically painful or sensitive, as a wound, hurt, or diseased part.

   a sore arm.

   Synonyms: tender

2. suffering bodily pain from wounds, bruises, etc..

   He is sore because of all that exercise.

3. suffering mental pain; grieved, distressed, or sorrowful.

   to be sore at heart.

   Synonyms: vexed, pained, hurt, hurt, aggrieved

4. causing great mental pain, distress, or sorrow.

   a sore bereavement.

   Synonyms: grievous, depressing, painful

5. causing very great suffering, misery, hardship, etc..

   sore need.

6. Informal.,  annoyed; irritated; offended; angered.

   He was sore because he had to wait.

7. causing annoyance or irritation.

   a sore subject.

noun

1. a sore spot or place on the body.

   Synonyms: wound, ulcer, abscess, inflammation

2. a source or cause of grief, distress, irritation, etc.

adverb

1. Archaic.,  sorely.

sore

/ sɔː /

adjective

1. (esp of a wound, injury, etc) painfully sensitive; tender

2. causing annoyance

   a sore point

3. resentful; irked

   he was sore that nobody believed him

4. urgent; pressing

   in sore need

5. (postpositive) grieved; distressed

6. causing grief or sorrow

noun

1. a painful or sensitive wound, injury, etc

2. any cause of distress or vexation

adverb

1. archaic,  direly; sorely (now only in such phrases as sore pressed, sore afraid )

Other Word Forms

• soreness noun
• unsore adjective
• unsorely adverb
• unsoreness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of sore¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English (adjective, noun, and adverb); Old English sār; cognate with Dutch zeer, German sehr, Old Norse sārr

Word History and Origins

Origin of sore¹

Old English sār; related to Old Norse sārr, Old High German sēr, Gothic sair sore, Latin saevus angry

Idioms and Phrases

• sight for sore eyes
• stick out (like a sore thumb)

Example Sentences

Marketed as quick relief for sore throats and stubborn coughs, these sweet syrups mix sugar, colour and flavouring with a cocktail of antihistamines, decongestants, expectorants.

From BBC

In 2005, on the same day he finished recording “Everything In Transit,” McMahon was admitted to the hospital after complaining of a prolonged sore throat and fatigue.

From Los Angeles Times

Aside from a backup catcher, they had two position players left: Harrison Bader, playing with a sore groin, and Weston Wilson, whom the Phillies had to save to run for Bader.

From Los Angeles Times

"I definitely suffered with it after the first week, like sore throat, runny nose, those typical symptoms, and it does linger for quite a while."

From BBC

Another, as new variants Stratus and Nimbus spike this winter, is a "razor-sharp" sore throat.

From BBC

Related Words

• aching 
• bruised www.thesaurus.com
• hurting www.thesaurus.com
• inflamed www.thesaurus.com
• painful 
• sharp 
• tender 
• uncomfortable