sore

1 of 3

adjective

ˈsȯr 

sorer; sorest

1

a

: causing emotional pain or distress

a sore subject

b

: physically tender (as from overuse or injury) : feeling or affected by pain : achy

sore muscles

limped on a sore leg

felt sore all over

2

: attended by difficulties, hardship, or exertion

3

: angry, irked

a sore loser

soreness noun

sore

2 of 3

noun

1

: a localized sore spot on the body

especially : one (such as an ulcer) with the tissues ruptured or abraded and usually with infection

2

: a source of pain or vexation : affliction

sore

3 of 3

adverb

: sorely

Synonyms of sore

Adjective

• aching
• painful
• hurting

Adverb

• terribly
• extremely
• very
• incredibly
• too
• damn
• badly
• damned
• severely
• so
• really
• highly
• desperately
• seriously
• jolly
• far
• intensely
• super
• greatly
• especially

Examples of sore in a Sentence

Adjective

a dog limping on a sore leg

The patient has a sore throat.

That's a sore subject to bring up.

The discussion touched on a sore spot.

My neighbor is sore at me.

Are you still sore about what happened last night?

Noun

He has a sore on his lip.

Adverb

I was sore afraid we'd never make it home.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

When Overshown had to miss a team period on Monday with a sore leg, Barham was even trusted to take on green-dot communicator responsibilities. — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Aug. 2026

Public safety has been somewhat of a sore spot for the 34-year-old mayor, who faced criticism from both the left and right on the matter. — Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 6 Aug. 2026

Noun

The sore can lead to an infection that may enter the bloodstream and become sepsis, a potentially deadly condition. — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026

Anyone who believes they have been bitten by a tick, and the bite progresses into an open sore or wound, is urged to contact a health care provider to begin treatment immediately. — Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 4 Aug. 2026

Adverb

DeMarvion Overshown has handled the bulk of the responsibilities during training camp, while rookie Jaishawn Barham received the green dot while Overshown nursed a sore lower body on Tuesday. — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Aug. 2026

As the maggots multiply, the wound becomes an open, rotting sore on the surface of the animal’s skin, sometimes attracting other fly species with the smell of rotting flesh. — Evan Bush, NBC news, 7 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English sor, from Old English sār; akin to Old High German sēr sore and probably to Old Irish saeth distress

First Known Use

Adjective

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

Noun

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

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing sore

• canker sore
• cold sore
• saddle sore
• septic sore throat
• sight for sore eyes
• sore loser
• sore throat
• stick/stand out like a sore thumb

Rhymes for sore

• boar
• boer
• bore
• chore
• cor
• core
• corps
• crore
• door
• drawer
• floor
• flor

Kids Definition

sore

1 of 3 adjective

ˈsō(ə)r 

ˈsȯ(ə)r

sorer; sorest

1

a

: causing pain or distress

a sore subject

b

: full of pain : tender

sore muscles

c

: hurt or red and swollen so as to be or seem painful

sore runny eyes

2

: accompanied by difficulties, hardship, or exertion

in a sore situation

3

: angry sense 1a

my friend is sore at me

soreness noun

sore

2 of 3 noun

1

: a sore spot on the body

especially : one (as an ulcer) with the tissues broken and usually infected

2

: a cause of pain : affliction

sore

3 of 3 adverb

: sorely

Medical Definition

sore

1 of 2 adjective

ˈsō(ə)r, ˈsȯ(ə)r 

sorer; sorest

: causing, characterized by, or affected with pain : painful

sore muscles

a sore wound

sorely adverb

soreness noun

sore

2 of 2 noun

: a localized sore spot on the body

especially : one (as an ulcer) with the tissues ruptured or abraded and usually with infection