1
as in aching
causing or feeling bodily pain
my legs are sore after that long walk yesterday
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in angry
feeling or showing anger
promise not to get sore if I tell you what I really think of your new hairstyle?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in cynical
having or showing deep-seated resentment
he's been sore ever since she insulted him
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in terribly
to a great degree
I was sore afraid we'd never make it home
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in swelling
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sore
Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 24 Apr. 2026
The Padres high-fived till their hands were sore.
—Ryan Finley, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 31 Oct. 2025
Her cheeks grew sore from smiling.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 17 Oct. 2025
Jeremy Kohler, ProPublica, 30 Mar. 2026
By this time, as an infection from the rusty nail courses through his body, Carroll has become a physically repulsive wreck, an open sore, riddled with gunge and pus.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sore
Adjective
Embiid also missed five consecutive games in February with a sore right knee.
—Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 24 Apr. 2026
The Padres high-fived till their hands were sore.
—Ryan Finley, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Apr. 2026
Adverb
He was originally injured in Week 1 against Seattle, playing start to finish and woke up the next morning sore.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 31 Oct. 2025
Her cheeks grew sore from smiling.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 17 Oct. 2025
Noun
One day, Ivy said, a wound-care nurse called the family into his mother’s room and showed them a severe pressure sore that had developed after Grissom hadn’t been turned regularly.
—Jeremy Kohler, ProPublica, 30 Mar. 2026
By this time, as an infection from the rusty nail courses through his body, Carroll has become a physically repulsive wreck, an open sore, riddled with gunge and pus.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sore
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sore
Adjective
-
Charles Frazier, Cold Mountain (1997) Charles Frazier’s Cold Mountain is an aching, tender slow burn shaped by absence.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Apr. 2026
-
The dramatic and aching second movement, according to Egarr, may have been a love letter to one of Beethoven’s romantic interests.—
Sheila Regan,
Twin Cities,
21 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The many leaps in time to the wedding—to which Ruben shows up on a motorcycle, angry enough to knock his brother out with a single punch—consistently ratchet up the sense of dread, and the suspense over why or how these two have stayed enmeshed.—
Inkoo Kang,
New Yorker,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Jabil board defies angry shareholders.—
Jim Edwards,
Fortune,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Senate Bill 6-D, one of the cynical subjects of this special session, would have further weakened Florida’s childhood vaccination rates, which have already sunk too low.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Both Angela Ingersoll, who played the ever-hopeful Sally, and Michelle Duffy, as the cynical realist Phyllis, pulsed with vivacious energy, playing across from Rapp’s sardonic take on wound-tight Ben and Wallem’s deeply sad exploration of Buddy.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
The only way Simpson is pressed into starting duty is if something goes terribly wrong with Stafford.—
Armando Salguero OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Suzuki’s early struggles aren’t terribly alarming.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
An infant’s accidental exposure to an infected child can mean serious illness, brain swelling and sometimes death.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
28 Apr. 2026
-
According to the Mayo Clinic, meningitis is an infection and swelling of the fluid and membranes around the brain and spinal cord.—
Emily St. Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The second type of polyp is small, wart-like and occurs in clusters.—
Samantha Agate,
Charlotte Observer,
23 Apr. 2026
-
The second type of polyp is small, wart-like and occurs in clusters, serving to create a water current through the colony.—
Samantha Agate,
Kansas City Star,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Every labored breath and painful cough is a reminder that their parents did everything right and relied on the immunity of those around them.—
Sarah Marsicek,
The Orlando Sentinel,
26 Apr. 2026
-
The Bruins’ have suffered more dramatically painful losses on home ice in recent memory.—
Stephen Conroy,
Hartford Courant,
26 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Previously, Hungarians opposed to the government were indignant but apathetic.—
Isaac Stanley-Becker,
The Atlantic,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Upon his return, Tagovailoa gave a rather indignant response to those who questioned his NFL future.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sore.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sore. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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