headache

noun

head·​ache ˈhed-ˌāk 

1

: pain in the head

2

: a vexatious or baffling situation or problem

… meetings had become a giant headache.

—Franklin Foer

headachy adjective

or less commonly headachey

ˈhed-ˌā-kē 

Synonyms of headache

• job
• killer
• burden
• effort

Examples of headache in a Sentence

I'm starting to get a headache.

The symptoms include fever and headache.

The city's biggest headache is traffic.

Managing your finances can be a real headache.

Recent Examples on the Web

Settlement typically takes one to three business days, and a return can surface after the transaction appears complete, a real cash-flow headache for thin-margin operators. — Dimitri Akhrin, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2026

That is a potential headache for Andersson, whose Social Democrats were on course for an unimpressive showing of about 28% of the vote. — ABC News, 14 Sep. 2026

Which, on some of the most congested and chaotic streets in the country, could create some pretty serious headaches. — Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 14 Sep. 2026

Melanie McGovern of the Better Business Bureau has stressed that companies with strong customer service save homeowners real money and real headaches over time. — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 14 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing headache

• cluster headache
• ice-cream headache
• pre-headache
• sick headache
• splitting headache
• tension headache

Rhymes for headache

• awake
• backache
• beefsteak
• betake
• cheesecake
• cupcake
• daybreak
• earthquake
• forsake
• gouache
• handshake
• heartache

Video

An Abbreviated History of American English Spelling

Soop, wimmen, and headake did not make the cut

Kids Definition

headache

noun

head·​ache ˈhed-ˌāk 

1

: pain in the head

2

: an annoying or baffling situation or problem

headachy

-ˌā-kē 

adjective

Medical Definition

headache

noun

head·​ache ˈhed-ˌāk 

: pain in the head

called also cephalalgia

headachy

-ˌā-kē 

adjective