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
Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026
Watch for a bull’s-eye rash or flu-like symptoms including fever, body aches and nausea in the days and weeks following a bite.
—Allison Palmer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Apr. 2026
Grandmother explains how each plant helps humans ease aches and pains, as well as offering good foods like honey from the bees that drink from plants.
—Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 12 Apr. 2026
Some of the first signs of Lyme disease include mild fever, joint aches, muscle pain, fatigue and headache.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 9 Apr. 2026
These soft, breathable and moisture-wicking compression socks help reduce swelling, and relieve aches and fatigue.
—Tory Johnson, ABC News, 26 Mar. 2026
People may initially have fever, headache, fatigue, nausea, vomiting or muscle aches.
—Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 20 Mar. 2026
Mpox symptoms include a sometimes painful, blistery rash on various parts of the body, fever, chills, exhaustion, muscle aches, headache, swollen lymph nodes and respiratory symptoms, according to the CDC.
—Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 16 Mar. 2026
Kratom can lead to addiction, and some signs of withdrawal could include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle/joint aches, restlessness, runny nose, excessive yawning, and hot or cold flashes.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 11 Mar. 2026
Keith M. Bellizzi, The Conversation, 13 Apr. 2026
Long week of being sick, out of it, fatigue, body aches, not being able to move [or get] out of bed.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2026
Symptoms generally appear within one or two weeks of infection, and can include fever, headache, rash and body aches.
—City News Service, Daily News, 3 Apr. 2026
Symptoms typically appear within one to two weeks after becoming infected and may include fever, headache, rash, and body aches.
—Julie Sharp, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
In a story translated from Korean, a ghost aches with loneliness after scaring everyone away; in a story translated from Arabic, a midwife is called to aid with the birth of … something.
—Erik Pedersen, Oc Register, 20 Mar. 2026
My heart aches for everyone who suffered alone and in silence for years.
—Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026
People may experience fever, fatigue, headache, nausea, sore throat and muscle aches.
—Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 11 Mar. 2026
Norovirus symptoms include dehydration, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, nausea, stomach pain, fever, headache and body aches.
—David K. Li, NBC news, 10 Mar. 2026
Noun
Each tablet contains 200 milligrams of ibuprofen and is one of the best over-the-counter pain relievers for those suffering from conditions such as muscular aches, minor arthritis pain, toothache, backache, menstrual cramps or minor aches.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026
Watch for a bull’s-eye rash or flu-like symptoms including fever, body aches and nausea in the days and weeks following a bite.
—Allison Palmer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Apr. 2026
Grandmother explains how each plant helps humans ease aches and pains, as well as offering good foods like honey from the bees that drink from plants.
—Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 12 Apr. 2026
Some of the first signs of Lyme disease include mild fever, joint aches, muscle pain, fatigue and headache.
—Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 9 Apr. 2026
These soft, breathable and moisture-wicking compression socks help reduce swelling, and relieve aches and fatigue.
—Tory Johnson, ABC News, 26 Mar. 2026
People may initially have fever, headache, fatigue, nausea, vomiting or muscle aches.
—Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 20 Mar. 2026
Mpox symptoms include a sometimes painful, blistery rash on various parts of the body, fever, chills, exhaustion, muscle aches, headache, swollen lymph nodes and respiratory symptoms, according to the CDC.
—Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 16 Mar. 2026
Kratom can lead to addiction, and some signs of withdrawal could include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle/joint aches, restlessness, runny nose, excessive yawning, and hot or cold flashes.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 11 Mar. 2026
Verb
In other words, resilience is not about sealing the wound and pretending it no longer aches.
—Keith M. Bellizzi, The Conversation, 13 Apr. 2026
Long week of being sick, out of it, fatigue, body aches, not being able to move [or get] out of bed.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2026
Symptoms generally appear within one or two weeks of infection, and can include fever, headache, rash and body aches.
—City News Service, Daily News, 3 Apr. 2026
Symptoms typically appear within one to two weeks after becoming infected and may include fever, headache, rash, and body aches.
—Julie Sharp, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
In a story translated from Korean, a ghost aches with loneliness after scaring everyone away; in a story translated from Arabic, a midwife is called to aid with the birth of … something.
—Erik Pedersen, Oc Register, 20 Mar. 2026
My heart aches for everyone who suffered alone and in silence for years.
—Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026
People may experience fever, fatigue, headache, nausea, sore throat and muscle aches.
—Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 11 Mar. 2026
Norovirus symptoms include dehydration, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, nausea, stomach pain, fever, headache and body aches.
—David K. Li, NBC news, 10 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aches
Noun
-
Gibson cited increasingly severe stomach pains and diarrhea across several days as her family's symptoms.—
Chiara Kim,
PEOPLE,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Branch Rickey and Leo Durocher, the Dodgers’ general manager and manager, took great pains to protect Robinson, but protecting him from all of the vitriol was an impossibility.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Accountability makes everything easier, and a little friendly competition never hurts.—
Cheryl Russell,
Oc Register,
19 Apr. 2026
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Those who can't prebook face higher prices, which hurts their budgets, and may force readjustments in production and types of crops.—
George Petras,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The book cover trend, imbued with nostalgia for childhood, promises fiction that grapples with the pangs of adulthood in an age of precarity.—
Maddie Connors,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Minnesota fans may have had some mild pangs over parting with Buium or Rossi, but a mid- to late-20s pick for arguably the best defenseman on the planet?—
Sean McIndoe,
New York Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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My boredom typically spurs feelings of frustration, guilt, shame—and long nutritionless spells of goggling, slack-jawed, at celebrity news on my phone while the world throbs around me.—
Daniel Smith,
The Atlantic,
27 Feb. 2026
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Pain that is not a word throbs in his shoulders, awakens him each morning.—
Rosa Lyster,
Harpers Magazine,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Researchers suggested that future studies should include people who actually experience tingles to better understand how ASMR might help with mental health and relaxation.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Aches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aches. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
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