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
Christine Sarkis, USA Today, 27 Jan. 2026
The detox massage worked deep into the hiking aches.
—Jemima Sissons, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Jan. 2026
Traditional acupuncture involves inserting thin metallic needles into your body, targeting specific aches and pains.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 21 Jan. 2026
Symptoms can include fever, muscle aches, nausea and diarrhea, and in severe cases, the infection can spread beyond the gut.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 20 Jan. 2026
Other symptoms can include headache, loss of balance, muscle stiffness, muscle aches and seizures.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 19 Jan. 2026
Peterson’s ailments and aches have included cramping, a hamstring strain, a separate quad issue and an illness.
—Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 16 Jan. 2026
That included three or more loose stools within a 24-hour period, or what is more than normal for that specific person, or vomiting with one of the following symptoms – diarrhea, muscle aches, headaches, abdominal cramps or a fever.
—Steven Yablonski, CBS News, 12 Jan. 2026
Studies show that 50 percent of the global population is estimated to suffer from a Vitamin D insufficiency, and this time of year, the effects are even more obvious thanks to a lack of sun exposure—mood swings and fatigue set in, and general aches and pains can become worse.
—Emma Greene, InStyle, 10 Jan. 2026
Christine Imarenezor, VIBE.com, 15 Jan. 2026
This loss is unexpected and surreal and my heart aches… for his family, for his wife, for his children, for his friends, and for all of us who were blessed to know him.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 15 Jan. 2026
Leptospirosis typically causes flu-like symptoms, including fever, chills, headache, body aches, vomiting or nausea, according to the CDC.
—Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 15 Jan. 2026
Seasonal influenza, also known as the flu, is an illness that causes fever, headache, fatigue, cough, sore throat, nasal congestion and body aches, according to the CDC.
—Isa Almeida, Oklahoman, 13 Jan. 2026
Caffeine is dehydrating and could make body aches worse.
—Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 12 Jan. 2026
Most people with the virus experience fever, headache and muscle aches.
—Patrick Jackson, The Conversation, 7 Jan. 2026
Numbers released this week from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that doctor visits for fever, body aches, sore throat, extreme fatigue, and other flu-like symptoms have reached the highest level since recording began nearly three decades ago.
—Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 7 Jan. 2026
Super flu virus symptoms The subclade K variant of flu A causes similar symptoms to other strains, including high fever, severe body aches, extreme fatigue, persistent cough, sore throat and intense headaches.
—Lori Comstock, Freep.com, 6 Jan. 2026
Noun
Backroads Building and maintaining muscle is an important part of aging well, and there are plenty of travelers who are stronger than ever (even if there are a few more aches and pains) in their 50s and 60s.
—Christine Sarkis, USA Today, 27 Jan. 2026
The detox massage worked deep into the hiking aches.
—Jemima Sissons, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Jan. 2026
Traditional acupuncture involves inserting thin metallic needles into your body, targeting specific aches and pains.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 21 Jan. 2026
Symptoms can include fever, muscle aches, nausea and diarrhea, and in severe cases, the infection can spread beyond the gut.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 20 Jan. 2026
Other symptoms can include headache, loss of balance, muscle stiffness, muscle aches and seizures.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 19 Jan. 2026
Peterson’s ailments and aches have included cramping, a hamstring strain, a separate quad issue and an illness.
—Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 16 Jan. 2026
That included three or more loose stools within a 24-hour period, or what is more than normal for that specific person, or vomiting with one of the following symptoms – diarrhea, muscle aches, headaches, abdominal cramps or a fever.
—Steven Yablonski, CBS News, 12 Jan. 2026
Studies show that 50 percent of the global population is estimated to suffer from a Vitamin D insufficiency, and this time of year, the effects are even more obvious thanks to a lack of sun exposure—mood swings and fatigue set in, and general aches and pains can become worse.
—Emma Greene, InStyle, 10 Jan. 2026
Verb
This loss is unexpected and surreal, and my heart aches… for his family, for his wife, for his children, for his friends, and for all of us who were blessed to know him.
—Christine Imarenezor, VIBE.com, 15 Jan. 2026
This loss is unexpected and surreal and my heart aches… for his family, for his wife, for his children, for his friends, and for all of us who were blessed to know him.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 15 Jan. 2026
Leptospirosis typically causes flu-like symptoms, including fever, chills, headache, body aches, vomiting or nausea, according to the CDC.
—Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 15 Jan. 2026
Seasonal influenza, also known as the flu, is an illness that causes fever, headache, fatigue, cough, sore throat, nasal congestion and body aches, according to the CDC.
—Isa Almeida, Oklahoman, 13 Jan. 2026
Caffeine is dehydrating and could make body aches worse.
—Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 12 Jan. 2026
Most people with the virus experience fever, headache and muscle aches.
—Patrick Jackson, The Conversation, 7 Jan. 2026
Numbers released this week from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that doctor visits for fever, body aches, sore throat, extreme fatigue, and other flu-like symptoms have reached the highest level since recording began nearly three decades ago.
—Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 7 Jan. 2026
Super flu virus symptoms The subclade K variant of flu A causes similar symptoms to other strains, including high fever, severe body aches, extreme fatigue, persistent cough, sore throat and intense headaches.
—Lori Comstock, Freep.com, 6 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aches
Noun
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In fact, Williams took great pains to establish that his primary objective is building the Terps (7-7, 0-3 Big Ten), not tearing down a 21-year-old prospect, the Bears or the sport’s governing body.—
Edward Lee,
Baltimore Sun,
3 Jan. 2026
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Those in their fifties and beyond require the same amount of sleep as younger adults—and may actually benefit from sleeping more to offset nightly wake-ups from aches and pains, medication side effects, or dealing with the need to urinate more frequently in the middle of the night.—
Emma Loewe,
Outside,
1 Jan. 2026
Verb
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In seismic papers, Borjas’s research described the drawbacks of immigration, including his oft-cited, though much-disputed, findings that the arrival of lower-skilled immigrants hurts American workers who compete for jobs, especially poor people and African Americans.—
Lauren Kaori Gurley,
Washington Post,
7 Jan. 2026
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That one still hurts a little bit.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Packing your own treats not only saves money between meals, but also keeps mood-tanking hunger pangs at bay.—
Alesandra Dubin,
Travel + Leisure,
20 Jan. 2026
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And dehydration—which tends to shoot up during the winter thanks in part to the drier air—can also spur hunger pangs and cravings if your body misinterprets the signals.—
Caroline Tien,
SELF,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
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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
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While the game is played across the country, its pulse throbs in Rio.—
Michal Ruprecht,
NPR,
28 Dec. 2025
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 31 Jan. 2026.
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