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
soreness
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
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
Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 7 Sep. 2025
After a day of hiking or skiing, soak in hot springs to relax sore muscles.
—Cu Fleshman, Travel + Leisure, 7 Sep. 2025
Carrie Madormo, Health, 6 Sep. 2025
Nigel has a sore on his lower lip, and David has one on his upper lip.
—Rob Reiner, New Yorker, 27 Aug. 2025
Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 7 Aug. 2025
There is also the running sore that is HS2, a project originally intended to build a new high-speed rail between London and cities in the Midlands and north of England, but which will now only run to Birmingham and is both years behind schedule and billions of pounds over budget.
—Ian King, CNBC, 9 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for sore
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Adjective
The federal rollback has disproportionately impacted states like Virginia and Maryland, which are so close to Washington, and have become a sore point for Republicans as voters react negatively to the hiring reductions.
—Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 7 Sep. 2025
After a day of hiking or skiing, soak in hot springs to relax sore muscles.
—Cu Fleshman, Travel + Leisure, 7 Sep. 2025
Noun
Wolf spider bites are not poisonous and won't cause sores or body-wide symptoms from its venom.
—Carrie Madormo, Health, 6 Sep. 2025
Nigel has a sore on his lower lip, and David has one on his upper lip.
—Rob Reiner, New Yorker, 27 Aug. 2025
Adverb
Meanwhile, right guard Kevin Dotson (chest contusion) and defensive tackle Poona Ford (sore groin) were riding stationary bikes after coming away sore from Tuesday’s joint practice with the Cowboys.
—Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 7 Aug. 2025
There is also the running sore that is HS2, a project originally intended to build a new high-speed rail between London and cities in the Midlands and north of England, but which will now only run to Birmingham and is both years behind schedule and billions of pounds over budget.
—Ian King, CNBC, 9 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for sore
Cite this Entry
“Sore.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sore. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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 noun1
: 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
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
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