aching

[ey-king]

adjective

1. causing physical pain or distress.

   treatment for an aching back.

2. full of or precipitating nostalgia, grief, loneliness, etc.

Other Word Forms

• achingly adverb
• unaching adjective
• unachingly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of aching¹

Middle English word dating back to 1200–1250; ache, -ing ²

Example Sentences

It’s aching and vulnerable, and reveals the kind of stunning emotional depth that Michael exuded throughout his entire career.

From Salon

“Go do the revolution, baby,” Bob says as Perfidia marches out the door, her postpartum depression urging her to prove that she’s more than an aching body shackled to a baby.

From Los Angeles Times

You spend “Christy” aching to see him get socked in the face.

From Los Angeles Times

In the meantime, we have Wyle, the actor who gave the show its aching heart.

From Los Angeles Times

When Winslet allows the dam surrounding Mare’s despair to crack a little, frosting the blank spaces between lines of dialogue with pure aching emotion, tearing your eyes away is impossible.

From Salon

Related Words

• hurting www.thesaurus.com
• nagging 
• sore 
• throbbing