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sore throat

American  

noun

Pathology.
sore throats plural
  1. a painful or sensitive condition of the throat exaggerated by swallowing or talking, usually caused by bacteria or viruses; laryngitis; pharyngitis; tonsillitis.


Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

Etymology

Origin of sore throat

First recorded in 1680–90

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

She said it had happened on numerous occasions but had felt it was not a "big deal" as it often only left her with a sore throat.

From BBC Jul. 10, 2026

A few weeks ago, my Oura flagged “major signs of strain”—24 hours before I felt a sore throat and a stuffy nose.

From The Wall Street Journal May 7, 2026

My sore throat was gone, but speaking for more than 10 seconds made me lightheaded, as if I were trying to blow up a balloon simply by talking.

From Slate Apr. 18, 2026

Influenza can lead to complications and fatalities, especially in people 65 years and older or under 5 with fever, cough and sore throat.

From Los Angeles Times Jan. 7, 2026

Mirren has a sore throat and body aches.

From "We Were Liars" by E. Lockhart

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