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

He said the work is harsh and that his arms, back and legs get sore, especially at the start of the season.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

While Cyndee is massaging her sore feet on a bench, Bert strikes up a casual conversation with a young woman the next bench over.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

My body is still sore, and my head’s still pounding, but I don’t care.

Read more on Literature

Flu and certain other diseases that cause colds and sore throats spread more easily in the winter months.

Read more on BBC

Because it appears to accelerate repair, SerpinB3 could eventually be developed into a therapy for chronic, hard-to-heal wounds, such as pressure sores and other ulcers that close only very slowly over time.

Read more on Science Daily

Related Words

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