hurt feelings
plural noun
: unhappiness or sadness caused by someone's words or actions
His behavior at the party caused a lot of hurt feelings.
Examples of hurt feelings in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
There’s drama and hurt feelings, with some queens managing to stand out as performers and other queens managing to stand out as characters.
—
Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 10 Jan. 2026
Despite the hurt feelings and anxiety in Missouri over the Chiefs, Schroer’s bills will likely face an uphill battle during the upcoming legislative session.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 8 Jan. 2026
That's key, Beck said, to manage potential hurt feelings and egos among aging parents.
—Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 5 Jan. 2026
Research shows that people who acknowledge or apologize for rejection risk activating the rejectee’s ire, rather than alleviating hurt feelings.
—Anna Holmes, The Atlantic, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hurt feelings
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Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 10 Jan. 2026
Despite the hurt feelings and anxiety in Missouri over the Chiefs, Schroer’s bills will likely face an uphill battle during the upcoming legislative session.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 8 Jan. 2026
That's key, Beck said, to manage potential hurt feelings and egos among aging parents.
—Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 5 Jan. 2026
Research shows that people who acknowledge or apologize for rejection risk activating the rejectee’s ire, rather than alleviating hurt feelings.
—Anna Holmes, The Atlantic, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hurt feelings
Cite this Entry
“Hurt feelings.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hurt%20feelings. Accessed 21 Jan. 2026.
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