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
Angela Haupt, Time, 22 May 2025
The $10,000 cap was a sore spot for many taxpayers in high tax states.
—Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025
Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 24 May 2025
Safety problems, including patient falls and dangerous bed sores.
—Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 21 May 2025
Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 18 Mar. 2025
Overall, the Bear Elite Hybrid is a solid pick for sleepers who wake up sore in the lower back area, thanks to the bed’s high-gauge support coils in the center of the bed that hold up the lumbar area.
—Kells McPhillips, SELF, 26 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for sore
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Adjective
The sore spot was red, swollen, and painful—and the boy and his mother had no idea what had caused it.
—Angela Haupt, Time, 22 May 2025
The $10,000 cap was a sore spot for many taxpayers in high tax states.
—Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025
Noun
There is also the possibility of, bingo, changes in taste, bad breath, mouth and tongue sores, gum problems and tooth decay.
—Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 24 May 2025
Safety problems, including patient falls and dangerous bed sores.
—Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 21 May 2025
Adverb
Goldschmidt’s Back Paul Goldschmidt (sore back) received treatment on Tuesday after exiting Monday’s game early.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 18 Mar. 2025
Overall, the Bear Elite Hybrid is a solid pick for sleepers who wake up sore in the lower back area, thanks to the bed’s high-gauge support coils in the center of the bed that hold up the lumbar area.
—Kells McPhillips, SELF, 26 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for sore
Cite this Entry
“Sore.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sore. Accessed 7 Jun. 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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