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

"I'd say to the other guys 'Are you sore?'" says Spencer.

Read more on BBC

"We ask parents and guardians to look out for symptoms such as coughing, sore throat, fever or difficulty breathing," James Adamson from Public Health Wales said.

Read more on BBC

It can cause ulcers or sores around the animal's mouth and face, difficulties swallowing and breathing, fever and lameness, foetal deformities and stillbirths.

Read more on BBC

Few businesses are hiring, inflation is still a sore spot and households have cut back on spending.

Read more on MarketWatch

The suspected cause of the sore was not disclosed.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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