ACHES Synonyms: 57 Similar and Opposite Words

aches 1 of 2

noun

plural of ache

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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aches

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of ache

as in hurts

to feel or cause physical pain my feet ache from all that walking

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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 aches

Noun

Acetaminophen or ibuprofen lowers a fever and eases body aches. — Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 5 Nov. 2026 Early symptoms can include exhaustion, weakness, nausea, vomiting and muscle aches. — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2026 Within days, his temperature had spiked and he was racked with body aches and exhaustion. — Joshua Yaffa, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2026 Mild signs and symptoms of bird flu in people include eye redness and irritation, mild fever, cough, a sore throat, a runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches and fatigue, according to the CDC. — Nicholas Rice, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2026 For instance, fatigue, brain fog and body aches can be linked to menopause, fibromyalgia or even an underlying thyroid disorder. — Cheyenne Buckingham, Washington Post, 24 Oct. 2026 Some good medications to have include ibuprofen or naproxen, which can relieve headaches, body aches and sore throats by reducing inflammation and Acetaminophen, which can lower body temperature. — Brittney Melton, NPR, 20 Oct. 2026 The non-invasive form can cause gastrointestinal distress, fever and aches for a few days. — Eva Flowe october 15, Charlotte Observer, 15 Oct. 2026 Some parents may be more lenient than others on the candy indulgence, but Arnaout says setting limits is important to avoid children getting stomach aches or nausea. — Lina Ruiz october 9, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Oct. 2026

Verb

The majority of patients don't have symptoms, but about one in five will experience symptoms two to six days after being bitten, including fever, headaches, body aches, joint pain, diarrhea, vomiting or a rash. — ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026 Many infected people don’t get sick, but some experience fever, flu-like symptoms and — notoriously — aches. — Mike Stobbe, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026 Symptoms can include headache, body aches, joint pain, vomiting, diarrhea, or a rash, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. — Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2026 Most people who are infected with West Nile virus do not experience any symptoms or have a mild illness that may include a fever, headache and body aches, according to health officials. — Karma Sabbah, CBS News, 16 Sep. 2026 The camera still lingers, the music still aches, but the urgency is gone. — Henry Metz, Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2026 Most people infected with the virus have either no symptoms or experience a mild illness such as fever, headache, and body aches, health officials said. — Susan Bromley, Freep.com, 10 Sep. 2026 West Nile symptoms A full 80% of those infected may not show symptoms, but 20% have flu-like symptoms, such as a fever with headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea, rash or fatigue. — Charlotte Observer, 4 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for aches

Noun

During the chaos, two people suffered minor injuries and a third had chest pains, according to Chronister.

— Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 5 Nov. 2026
Some wet their beds, experience chest pains, or cry out at night.

— CBS News, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of pains

Verb

Patrick’s death means the loss of Picard, which for some hurts even more than the loss of Patrick Stewart.

— Gates McFadden, Variety, 2 Nov. 2026
As always with sunscreen, reapplication of water-resistant formulas is key—and physical sun protection never hurts in a beach or poolside setting.

— Iman Balagam, Vogue, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of hurts

Noun

Dining in the lounge is available all day to cater to international hunger pangs that don’t follow the same schedule as those of Spaniards.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
Now, the new smaller version is available for hunger pangs between meals as many consumers are replacing traditional meals with snacks throughout the day, according to Datassential.

— Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 6 Oct. 2026