1
: pain in the head
2
: a vexatious or baffling situation or problem
… meetings had become a giant headache.—
Franklin Foer
Franklin FoerExamples 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
Most people who are infected with West Nile virus will not develop symptoms, but those who do may experience a mild form of the illness, which can include fever, headache, body aches, swollen lymph glands or a rash, according to the IDOH.
—Michelle L. Quinn, Chicago Tribune, 6 June 2026
However, the headaches didn't go away after Cara completed the tests.
—Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 6 June 2026
His ability in one-versus-one situations is a headache for any team facing Brazil.
—Ahmed Walid, New York Times, 5 June 2026
Humming cooling systems, rumbling diesel generators and whirring fans can be heard continuously hundreds of feet around them, according to the Environmental and Energy Study Institute, prompting reports from residents of headaches, vertigo, nausea, sleep disturbances, ear pain and hypertension.
—N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for headache
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Michelle L. Quinn, Chicago Tribune, 6 June 2026
However, the headaches didn't go away after Cara completed the tests.
—Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 6 June 2026
His ability in one-versus-one situations is a headache for any team facing Brazil.
—Ahmed Walid, New York Times, 5 June 2026
Humming cooling systems, rumbling diesel generators and whirring fans can be heard continuously hundreds of feet around them, according to the Environmental and Energy Study Institute, prompting reports from residents of headaches, vertigo, nausea, sleep disturbances, ear pain and hypertension.
—N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for headache
Video
An Abbreviated History of American English Spelling
Soop, wimmen, and headake did not make the cut
Cite this Entry
“Headache.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/headache. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
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