sore

adjective

\ ˈsȯr

sorer; sorest

Definition of sore

(Entry 1 of 3)

1a : 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

sore

noun

Definition of sore (Entry 2 of 3)

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

adverb

Definition of sore (Entry 3 of 3)

: sorely

Other Words from sore Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about sore

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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

President Trump’s trade policies have put heavy pressure on the sore spots of China’s economy. — Andy Puzder, WSJ, "Behind Xi’s Bluster Is a Vulnerable China," 9 Jan. 2019 But that wasn’t the only sore spot for the Yankees left fielder. — New York Times, "Good News: Gardner Returns. Bad News: Yankees Still Fall to Rays.," 22 June 2018 On this December night, like every night, Gina searches for sore spots and ticks, her fingers feeling for anything that might be amiss with her beloved dog. — Amy Sutherland, BostonGlobe.com, "An experimental cancer treatment cured this dog. Could it work for people?," 12 June 2018 New England is looking to rejuvenate a pass rush that tied for seventh in the NFL with 42 sacks but still proved to be a sore spot in critical junctures, including a Super Bowl loss to the Eagles in which the defense never took down Nick Foles. — Michael Middlehurst-schwartz, USA TODAY, "Patriots hire martial arts expert Joe Kim as pass rushing consultant, per report," 14 May 2018 The controversy has also poked at some long-dormant societal sore spots. — NBC News, "Anti-Semitic conspiracy theories roil D.C. city government," 2 May 2018 Plus, the nearby natural hot springs is a perfect place to soothe sore muscles after a ski day. 2. — Alexa Tucker, SELF, "8 Great Places to Learn How to Ski If You've Never Been," 16 Feb. 2019 Discourage off-putting behaviors such as bragging or being a sore loser. — Sue Shellenbarger, WSJ, "Your Lonely Child’s Path to a Happier Life," 30 Oct. 2018 Peruto, however, maintained that Brinkley had done nothing wrong and attempted to cast doubt on the tenants’ claims by calling them sore losers after Brinkley prevailed against them in court. — Mark Fazlollah, Philly.com, "Meek Mill judge Genece Brinkley hires lawyer, threatens to sue rapper's backers," 1 Feb. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

The use of these products on gel injection sites with skin sores, pimples, rashes, hives, cysts, or infections should be postponed until healing is complete. — Vogue, "Celebrity Manicurist Deborah Lippmann on Beauty, Aging, and the Product That Changed her Relationship With her Hands," 1 Apr. 2019 Change is coming to China’s pharmaceutical sector, as Beijing grapples with some persistent sores in the country’s health-care system. — Jacky Wong, WSJ, "Solving China’s Drugs-Price Problem Is Hurting Drugmakers," 7 Dec. 2018 In 2012, Smith had a bad bacterial infection, MRSA, from reusing needles, with sores covering her face and body. — German Lopez, Vox, "Needle exchanges help combat the opioid crisis. But officials keep shutting them down.," 29 Nov. 2018 For example, high rates of falls or bed sores may indicate understaffing or neglect. — USA TODAY, "Secret VA nursing home ratings hide poor quality care from the public," 17 June 2018 These painful lesions present as blisters or sores that will have fluid or erupt, Dr. Bhuyan says. — Yerin Kim, Seventeen, "What Is Herpes and How Do I Know if I Have It?," 11 Dec. 2018 The disease typically causes sores in the mouth and a rash on the hands and feet, the Mayo Clinic says, and it's usually caused by a type of virus called a coxsackievirus. — Korin Miller, SELF, "Carey Hart Shares a Photo of His Son With Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease," 29 Aug. 2018 Her friends picked at sores their faces compulsively, and their behavior was erratic. — Joshua Sharpe, ajc, "Meth, ‘the Devil’s drug,’ is back and killing more people than ever," 4 July 2018 The nursing home did better than private facilities in some areas, including rates of falls and bed sores. — Maureen Groppe, Indianapolis Star, "Sen. Young to check out quality of VA nursing home in Marion," 29 June 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Adverb

But afterward Paul of Tarsus, too, was sore afraid. — WSJ, "In Hoc Anno Domini," 23 Dec. 2018 But afterward Paul of Tarsus, too, was sore afraid. — WSJ, "In Hoc Anno Domini," 23 Dec. 2018 But afterward Paul of Tarsus, too, was sore afraid. — WSJ, "In Hoc Anno Domini," 23 Dec. 2018 Anybody still sore over New Orleans' minor league baseball team changing its name to the Baby Cakes might enjoy this one. — Christopher Dabe, NOLA.com, "Another name change for Baby Cakes? Yes, but for one night only," 25 Apr. 2018 And the crowd was satisfied, and left that place, sore amazed. — George Saunders, The New Yorker, "Little St. Don," 19 Feb. 2016 Before the game, the Mets placed struggling relief pitcher A.J. Ramos (rotator cuff tendinitis) and infielder Wilmer Flores (sore back) on the disabled list. — James Wagner, New York Times, "Mets Split a Double-Header, Somehow Losing the deGrom Start," 28 May 2018 These made my arm very sore and made some in our company very sick. — Phoebe Wall Howard, Detroit Free Press, "Service Diary of a Corpsman: Roy L. Wall, LST 509," 28 May 2018 Sardiñas has sore back Infielder Luis Sardiñas, who entered Saturday's 9-5 loss to the Detroit Tigers as a defensive replacement, reported having lower back pain after the game, manager Buck Showalter said. — Jon Meoli, baltimoresun.com, "Orioles notes: Joey Rickard on Norfolk adjustments; Luis Sardiñas dealing with lower back pain," 29 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sore.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.