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
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
Sometimes, though, the two sides of Klopp’s coaching personality left hurt feelings, even broken hearts behind.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2025
It was just hurt feelings; nobody physically hurt anybody.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2025
The father, caught between his daughter’s well-being and his parents’ hurt feelings, admitted the choice is painful.
—Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 7 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hurt feelings
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Anna Holmes, The Atlantic, 20 Oct. 2025
Sometimes, though, the two sides of Klopp’s coaching personality left hurt feelings, even broken hearts behind.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2025
It was just hurt feelings; nobody physically hurt anybody.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2025
The father, caught between his daughter’s well-being and his parents’ hurt feelings, admitted the choice is painful.
—Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 7 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 27 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share