ache 1 of 2

noun

Definition of achenext
as in tingle
a sharp unpleasant sensation usually felt in some specific part of the body a dull pounding ache in his head

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

ache

2 of 2

verb

ˈāk How to pronounce ache (audio)
as in to hurt
to feel or cause physical pain my feet ache from all that walking

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of ache
Noun
The fever and the less intense strain often presents as a headache, fever, muscle and joint aches, nausea, and fatigue. — Mary Ella Hastings july 24, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 July 2026 The non-opioid tablet can be used by adults and children aged 12 and ​older for temporary relief of headaches, back pain, muscle aches, toothache, menstrual cramps and minor pain from arthritis, the FDA said. — Ken Alltucker, USA Today, 24 July 2026
Verb
Packing shoes that leave your feet aching halfway through the day. — Kaitlin Marks, Travel + Leisure, 24 July 2026 After a long day on the mountain, steal away to the soaking tub in one of the guest bathrooms to melt your stress (and muscle aches) away. — Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 23 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for ache
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ache
  1. tingle
  2. hurt
  3. pang
  4. pain
  5. sting
  6. throb
Noun
  • Fruit extracts clarify excess oil and buildup, while a cooling mint complex and menthol deliver a refreshing tingle, leaving your scalp feeling clean, balanced, and freshly reset.
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 18 June 2026
  • In the case of Putnam County, that tingle is a roar — our collective sense that the fraud there goes back decades.
    — Paul Solotaroff, Rolling Stone, 9 June 2026
Definition of tingle
Verb
  • The lionfish's poisonous spikes can badly hurt anyone who’s stung.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 30 July 2026
  • The use of force is allowed under certain conditions, according to the personnel board’s order, including when an inmate could be assaultive or hurt themselves — which led Green to dismiss CDCR’s allegation against the officer.
    — Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of hurt
Noun
  • Statements by government lawyers that contradict the official White House line are not merely the results of pangs of conscience.
    — David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 28 July 2026
  • Curtin admits to feeling a small pang when a guest drinks only water throughout the meal.
    — Noel Burgess, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
Definition of pang
Verb
  • Adelman was pained by his Kings exit.
    — Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 3 June 2026
  • But as a catcher, he’s used to pain.
    — Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 20 May 2026
Definition of pain
Noun
  • Caterpillar hairs floated on the water’s surface, leaving swimmers with a necklace of red stings.
    — Ben Crair, New Yorker, 31 July 2026
  • This was in the era of mail-order CD clubs, when radio stations would pay $100 a month for one or two CDs full of background music to produce ads or stings.
    — Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 30 July 2026
Definition of sting
Verb
  • The first is pique, a sharp, vinegary hot sauce that throbs with the heat of Thai chiles.
    — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026
  • There have been plenty of times when my feet throbbed after hours of sightseeing.
    — Destinee Scott, Travel + Leisure, 27 July 2026
Definition of throb

Phrases Containing ache

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aces (out)
ache
ached
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Cite this Entry

“Ache.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ache. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on ache

Nglish: Translation of ache for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ache

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