as in pains
a sharp unpleasant sensation usually felt in some specific part of the body
a dull pounding ache in his head
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Recent Examples of aches
Asuka Koda, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025
Meanwhile, there are dozens of viruses and bacteria that can cause flu-like symptoms — such as fever, chills, cough, body aches and headaches — including enterovirus, parainfluenza and more.
—Liz Szabo, NBC news, 25 Oct. 2025
Elderly consumers, who might seek gentle relief for aches or the comfort of a familiar ritual, are left stranded.
—Jahan Marcu, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2025
The most common symptoms of flu include fever, headache, cough, sore throat and muscle aches.
—Caroline Neal, Louisville Courier Journal, 21 Oct. 2025
Like regular depression, SAD can cause negative feelings like hopelessness, worthlessness, irritability, and guilt; fatigue or reduced energy; a loss of interest in hobbies and activities; and even physical aches and pains (including headaches, cramps, and digestive problems).
—Maggie O'Neill, SELF, 20 Oct. 2025
Symptoms of listeriosis include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, loss of balance and convulsions.
—Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 20 Oct. 2025
There is even a massage with horses, during which a horse grazes nearby while a massage therapist works out your aches and pains.
—Katie Lockhart, Travel + Leisure, 17 Oct. 2025
Eye irritation or redness, fever, chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headaches, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting or rash.
—Katie Wiseman, IndyStar, 17 Oct. 2025
NPR, 4 Nov. 2025
Although pregnant women typically have fever, fatigue and muscle aches, serious cases may lead to stillbirth, premature delivery or life-threatening infection of the newborn.
—Asuka Koda, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025
While the flu is traditionally associated with symptoms like fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, runny or stuffy nose, headache and fatigue, children and adults alike can experience moderate to severe complications.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025
After sitting at my sewing machine for a couple of hours, my neck aches and my right foot is stiff from standing to attention over the pedal.
—Literary Hub, 22 Oct. 2025
Most people suffer high fevers, headaches, muscle aches, sometimes balance problems and confusion.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2025
Minor stomach aches, sore throats, ear aches and headaches — with no fever?
—Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 17 Oct. 2025
The pain of that premature departure still aches more than a decade on.
—Jack Bantock, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
For those experiencing less severe infections, symptoms may include fever, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, which often last between one and three days, according to the FDA.
—Peter Aitken, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Noun
Consumption of food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that can cause fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions.
—Asuka Koda, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025
Meanwhile, there are dozens of viruses and bacteria that can cause flu-like symptoms — such as fever, chills, cough, body aches and headaches — including enterovirus, parainfluenza and more.
—Liz Szabo, NBC news, 25 Oct. 2025
Elderly consumers, who might seek gentle relief for aches or the comfort of a familiar ritual, are left stranded.
—Jahan Marcu, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2025
The most common symptoms of flu include fever, headache, cough, sore throat and muscle aches.
—Caroline Neal, Louisville Courier Journal, 21 Oct. 2025
Like regular depression, SAD can cause negative feelings like hopelessness, worthlessness, irritability, and guilt; fatigue or reduced energy; a loss of interest in hobbies and activities; and even physical aches and pains (including headaches, cramps, and digestive problems).
—Maggie O'Neill, SELF, 20 Oct. 2025
Symptoms of listeriosis include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, loss of balance and convulsions.
—Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 20 Oct. 2025
There is even a massage with horses, during which a horse grazes nearby while a massage therapist works out your aches and pains.
—Katie Lockhart, Travel + Leisure, 17 Oct. 2025
Eye irritation or redness, fever, chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headaches, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting or rash.
—Katie Wiseman, IndyStar, 17 Oct. 2025
Verb
Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, gastrointestinal issues, stiff neck, confusion and loss of balance.
—NPR, 4 Nov. 2025
Although pregnant women typically have fever, fatigue and muscle aches, serious cases may lead to stillbirth, premature delivery or life-threatening infection of the newborn.
—Asuka Koda, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025
While the flu is traditionally associated with symptoms like fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, runny or stuffy nose, headache and fatigue, children and adults alike can experience moderate to severe complications.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025
After sitting at my sewing machine for a couple of hours, my neck aches and my right foot is stiff from standing to attention over the pedal.
—Literary Hub, 22 Oct. 2025
Most people suffer high fevers, headaches, muscle aches, sometimes balance problems and confusion.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2025
Minor stomach aches, sore throats, ear aches and headaches — with no fever?
—Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 17 Oct. 2025
The pain of that premature departure still aches more than a decade on.
—Jack Bantock, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
For those experiencing less severe infections, symptoms may include fever, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, which often last between one and three days, according to the FDA.
—Peter Aitken, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aches
Noun
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The movie takes pains to illustrate how the possible end of the world will begin like any other day.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Colleagues who failed to take similar pains earned his everlasting disdain.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
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And some experts caution that the testing of nuclear warheads – creating actual nuclear explosions – hurts humans and can have lasting consequences for generations.—
Brad Lendon,
CNN Money,
4 Nov. 2025
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If anything hurts, pull slowly out of the pose.—
Cory Martin,
Verywell Health,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Some detail Lucy’s desperate search for a new refrigerator for her mother-in-law during the height of the war, while others show the pangs of jealousy that come with a new relationship.—
Virginia Chamlee,
PEOPLE,
5 Nov. 2025
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These pangs are only compounded by the cliffhanger that concluded Season 2, in which President William Rayburn (Michael McKean) suffered a fatal heart attack and elevated his vice president, Grace Penn (Allison Janney), to the top of the call sheet.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Portugal’s coastline throbs with beach goers and sports enthusiasts.—
Tom Mullen,
Forbes.com,
25 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Aches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aches. Accessed 11 Nov. 2025.
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