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
Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 18 May 2026
The absence of the film’s biggest stars, and arguably one of the biggest movie stars of this year’s muted festival, had been a sore disappointment to the screaming crowds outside the Palais, but Johansson is busy filming the reboot of The Exorcist.
—Jada Yuan, HollywoodReporter, 17 May 2026
Brandi Jones, Health, 19 May 2026
Many refugees came to her complaining of the headaches and sores and bodily pains that come from extreme stress and extreme boredom, of bedding on cold floors and being awoken through the night by explosions.
—James Verini, The Atlantic, 12 May 2026
Ian King, CNBC, 8 Apr. 2026
Brother Seth Curry was sidelined to manage sciatica in his left leg and also out were De'Anthony Melton (sore left inner thigh), Moses Moody (sprained right wrist) and Quinten Post (foot soreness).
—CBS News, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sore
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.
Adjective
Another sore point has been that the $5 Standby Mode now costs $10 per month, even though many Starlink users have been using it as a low-cost option to keep their portable Starlink Mini dishes online rather than completely shut off access.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 18 May 2026
The absence of the film’s biggest stars, and arguably one of the biggest movie stars of this year’s muted festival, had been a sore disappointment to the screaming crowds outside the Palais, but Johansson is busy filming the reboot of The Exorcist.
—Jada Yuan, HollywoodReporter, 17 May 2026
Noun
These are usually small, shallow, painful sores with a white or yellow center and a bright red ring around them.
—Brandi Jones, Health, 19 May 2026
Many refugees came to her complaining of the headaches and sores and bodily pains that come from extreme stress and extreme boredom, of bedding on cold floors and being awoken through the night by explosions.
—James Verini, The Atlantic, 12 May 2026
Adverb
At the same time, hundreds of thousands of businesses face higher business rates — a long-running sore — following a revaluation of the rateable values of all commercial properties in England and Wales.
—Ian King, CNBC, 8 Apr. 2026
Brother Seth Curry was sidelined to manage sciatica in his left leg and also out were De'Anthony Melton (sore left inner thigh), Moses Moody (sprained right wrist) and Quinten Post (foot soreness).
—CBS News, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sore
Cite this Entry
“Sore.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sore. Accessed 25 May. 2026.
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
