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

Adjective

• aching
• painful
• hurting

Adverb

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

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

These natural springs are magnesium, salt, and potassium-rich, which have the properties of relieving sore muscles, enhancing the flow of blood, and benefiting skin, and make the person relax deeply. —Shelby Knick, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025

Moncada can’t currently hit right-handed because of limitations with his sore right knee, so that answers the question on some days. —Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 4 Aug. 2025

Noun

Four days into treatment Larry started complaining of mouth sores that worsened progressively. —Kerin Milesky, Boston Herald, 26 July 2025

Basal cell carcinoma may look like a pearly bump, a sore that doesn’t heal, or a pink, scaly patch, Massick says. —Stacey Colino, Time, 9 July 2025

Adverb

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

Was his ass sore afterwards?), only to later confront herself with the idea that loving someone might require her to set them free. —David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 12 June 2025

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