sore
physically painful or sensitive, as a wound, hurt, or diseased part: a sore arm.
suffering bodily pain from wounds, bruises, etc.: He is sore because of all that exercise.
suffering mental pain; grieved, distressed, or sorrowful: to be sore at heart.
causing great mental pain, distress, or sorrow: a sore bereavement.
causing very great suffering, misery, hardship, etc.: sore need.
causing annoyance or irritation: a sore subject.
a sore spot or place on the body.
a source or cause of grief, distress, irritation, etc.
Archaic. sorely.
Origin of sore
1Other words for sore
| 1 | tender |
| 3 | aggrieved, hurt, pained, vexed |
| 4 | grievous, distressing, painful, depressing |
| 8 | inflammation, abscess, ulcer, wound |
Other words from sore
- soreness, noun
- un·sore, adjective
- un·sore·ly, adverb
- un·sore·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use sore in a sentence
The bag can also be used for physical therapy—heat it in the microwave and place it on sore muscles or strained joints for slow relief.
The hottest gifts to buy for the friend who’s always cold | Sandra Gutierrez G. | November 20, 2020 | Popular-ScienceThis, he added, would result in him being called a “sore loser” and jeopardize any chance of him running for president again.
Fatigue, headaches, sore throats, muscle pain, and diarrhea were also less common among younger patients.
He finished the game, a 30-27 victory, but woke up extremely sore the next day.
Amid the pandemic, college football’s powers ceded the stage. Enter Coastal Carolina. | John Feinstein | October 29, 2020 | Washington PostThe device’s head can also be adjusted across 175 degrees, for convenient access to sore places.
Electronics and exercise gear that make excellent gifts | PopSci Commerce Team | October 8, 2020 | Popular-Science
Murphy also mentioned constant soreness in his hands, which incurred a total of four gunshot wounds.
15 Rounds and Still Talking: Lt. Brian Murphy’s Story of the Oak Creek Massacre | Simran Jeet Singh | August 5, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTFrom my neck to my temples, there is a throbbing soreness on both sides of my face, all radiating from the hinge of my jawbone.
The muscle soreness soon escalated into a storm of extreme symptoms—crippling pain, flu-like weakness, unquenchable thirst.
Necrotizing Fasciitis: Life After Flesh-Eating Bacteria | Casey Schwartz | May 17, 2012 | THE DAILY BEASTMr. Holmes and myself have wrestled upon another battle-field, and I can afford to forgive him, from the soreness of his defeat.
Alone | Marion HarlandBut the soreness remained and the Shearmen were very turbulent for a long period.
The Influence and Development of English Gilds | Francis Aiden HibbertIn a few moments I became insensible, but when I awoke an hour later I was astounded to feel a curious soreness in my ears.
The Czar's Spy | William Le QueuxIf any soreness of the throat remains, give a few doses of Mercurius.
An Epitome of Homeopathic Healing Art | B. L. HillHe was of too good a nature to be stirred to injustice against his friend by the soreness of this feeling.
The Prime Minister | Anthony Trollope
British Dictionary definitions for sore
/ (sɔː) /
(esp of a wound, injury, etc) painfully sensitive; tender
causing annoyance: a sore point
resentful; irked: he was sore that nobody believed him
urgent; pressing: in sore need
(postpositive) grieved; distressed
causing grief or sorrow
a painful or sensitive wound, injury, etc
any cause of distress or vexation
archaic direly; sorely (now only in such phrases as sore pressed, sore afraid)
Origin of sore
1Derived forms of sore
- soreness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with sore
In addition to the idiom beginning with sore
- sore point, a
also see:
- sight for sore eyes
- stick out (like a sore thumb)
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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