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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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 aches

Noun

The illness can begin with flu-like symptoms, such as fatigue, body aches and loss of appetite. — Erika Edwards, NBC news, 14 July 2026 Spreading through bites from infected mosquitoes, symptoms of West Nile could include fever, headache, nausea, body aches and a mild skin rash. — Austin Turner, CBS News, 13 July 2026 Others will experience mild symptoms such as fever, body aches and nausea. — Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 13 July 2026 Symptoms can include fever, muscle aches, cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea and confusion. — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 11 July 2026 Loss of appetite, significant weight loss, extreme fatigue, and muscle aches can also be signs. — Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 11 July 2026 Cannabis is used medically to help people sleep, reduce anxiety, alleviate minor aches and more. — Martha Ross, Mercury News, 6 July 2026 Officials are also urging anyone who spent time along the east side of Central Park between East 76th Street and East 97th Street to watch for flu-like symptoms, including fever, cough, chills and muscle aches. — Sophia Compton, FOXNews.com, 6 July 2026 Perhaps second only to getting sunburned through your favorite white dress, the greatest casualty of summer fashion is the aches and pains brought on by your cutest but least supportive shoes. — Annie Blackman, InStyle, 4 July 2026

Verb

Symptoms resemble other types of pneumonia and can include fever, chills, muscle aches, and cough. — Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 4 July 2026 Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome causes fatigue, fever, muscle aches, abdominal problems, headaches, chills and dizziness in the early stages, and late symptoms include chest tightness, coughing, shortness of breath and lungs filling with fluid. — Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026 Symptoms include fever, headache, body aches, vomiting, diarrhea or rash, according to the CDC. — Youri Benadjaoud, ABC News, 1 July 2026 Some people also experience body aches, headache or vomiting. — Paula Wethington, CBS News, 1 July 2026 Most people who are infected with West Nile virus will not develop symptoms, but those who do may experience a mild form of the illness, which can include fever, headache, body aches, swollen lymph glands or a rash, according to the IDOH. — Michelle L. Quinn, Chicago Tribune, 29 June 2026 For those who do show symptoms — about 1 in 5 people — West Nile causes flu-like symptoms (vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, body aches, joint pains), the CDC says. — Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 29 June 2026 For five days leading up to his donation, Siqueiros-Lasky will receive injections that spike his blood stem cell production, which can cause bone and muscle aches. — Rylan Digiacomo-Rapp, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 June 2026 Most people have no symptoms, but mild symptoms include fever, headache, body aches, skin rash on trunk of body and swollen lymph glands. — Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 24 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for aches

Noun

Having witnessed centuries of religious warfare in Europe, when millions were killed for their beliefs, the framers took pains to make sure nothing like that would happen here.

— Kenneth Seeskin, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
Perhaps second only to getting sunburned through your favorite white dress, the greatest casualty of summer fashion is the aches and pains brought on by your cutest but least supportive shoes.

— Annie Blackman, InStyle, 4 July 2026

Definition of pains

Verb

Empire Towers' unsafe structure hurts nearby businesses Workers at BG's Car Wash on Crain Highway told CBS News Baltimore that business has slowed after the perimeter was established around Empire Towers.

— Caroline Foreback, CBS News, 13 July 2026
That's the most disappointing thing and that's the part that hurts the most for me personally.

— Michael Lewis, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026

Definition of hurts

Noun

When its inevitable end arrives, the sun’s core will exhaust the last traces of hydrogen fuel and kick off the first stellar death pangs.

— Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 1 July 2026
Kanaal is king for indulging elevenses hunger pangs, providing cakes, cookies, tea, coffee, and made-to-order traditional Dutch sweets including stroopwafles and puffertjes.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 June 2026

Definition of pangs

Verb

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
Pain that is not a word throbs in his shoulders, awakens him each morning.

— Rosa Lyster, Harpers Magazine, 6 Jan. 2026