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
Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 6 Jan. 2026
Flu symptoms in adults and children come on quick, with symptoms lasting from a few days to two weeks, with fatigue and chills to start, followed by fever, body aches, cough, headache, sore throat, congestion, and runny or stuffy nose, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
—Lori Comstock, Freep.com, 6 Jan. 2026
Non-NSAIDs safer, but not risk-free Non-NSAID pain relievers are commonly used for everyday aches, headaches and fever, but not swelling.
—Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 6 Jan. 2026
For those who begin to experience flu symptoms – high fever, chills, muscle aches, headache, extreme fatigue, cough, sore throat, and congestion – antiviral medications, such as oseltamivir (Tamiflu), are available by prescription.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 5 Jan. 2026
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
Flu symptoms include cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, headaches, muscle or body aches, fatigue, and fever or chills.
—Angela Palermo, Idaho Statesman, 31 Dec. 2025
Those symptoms include muscle aches, fever, vomiting, and general weakness and discomfort.
—Dan Raby, CBS News, 31 Dec. 2025
These symptoms may include fever, muscle aches, fatigue, headache, confusion, loss of balance or seizures.
—Maia Pandey, jsonline.com, 7 Nov. 2025
Lori Comstock, Freep.com, 6 Jan. 2026
My heart aches for you and for your beautiful little girls.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Jan. 2026
Symptoms of the flu can include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, and fatigue.
—Justin Adams, CBS News, 2 Jan. 2026
Symptoms of bird flu can include fever, fatigue, cough, muscle aches, sore throat, shortness of breath, stuffy or runny nose, eye redness, headaches and pneumonia requiring hospitalization, according to the CDC.
—Michelle Tauber, PEOPLE, 29 Dec. 2025
To help limit further spread, the department advises individuals experiencing flu-like symptoms — including fever, cough, sore throat, or body aches — to stay home.
—Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 28 Dec. 2025
Our world aches for such noble pursuits, and for people willing to become bearers of goodness and joy.
—Peter Folan, Boston Herald, 24 Dec. 2025
The result is a memorial that aches with what’s missing as much as with what’s preserved.
—Literary Hub, 19 Dec. 2025
But my heart aches for baby Bowie.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
Noun
Flu symptoms include fever, chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, tiredness, vomiting, and diarrhea.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 6 Jan. 2026
Flu symptoms in adults and children come on quick, with symptoms lasting from a few days to two weeks, with fatigue and chills to start, followed by fever, body aches, cough, headache, sore throat, congestion, and runny or stuffy nose, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
—Lori Comstock, Freep.com, 6 Jan. 2026
Non-NSAIDs safer, but not risk-free Non-NSAID pain relievers are commonly used for everyday aches, headaches and fever, but not swelling.
—Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 6 Jan. 2026
For those who begin to experience flu symptoms – high fever, chills, muscle aches, headache, extreme fatigue, cough, sore throat, and congestion – antiviral medications, such as oseltamivir (Tamiflu), are available by prescription.
—Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 5 Jan. 2026
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
Flu symptoms include cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, headaches, muscle or body aches, fatigue, and fever or chills.
—Angela Palermo, Idaho Statesman, 31 Dec. 2025
Those symptoms include muscle aches, fever, vomiting, and general weakness and discomfort.
—Dan Raby, CBS News, 31 Dec. 2025
These symptoms may include fever, muscle aches, fatigue, headache, confusion, loss of balance or seizures.
—Maia Pandey, jsonline.com, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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
My heart aches for you and for your beautiful little girls.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Jan. 2026
Symptoms of the flu can include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, and fatigue.
—Justin Adams, CBS News, 2 Jan. 2026
Symptoms of bird flu can include fever, fatigue, cough, muscle aches, sore throat, shortness of breath, stuffy or runny nose, eye redness, headaches and pneumonia requiring hospitalization, according to the CDC.
—Michelle Tauber, PEOPLE, 29 Dec. 2025
To help limit further spread, the department advises individuals experiencing flu-like symptoms — including fever, cough, sore throat, or body aches — to stay home.
—Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 28 Dec. 2025
Our world aches for such noble pursuits, and for people willing to become bearers of goodness and joy.
—Peter Folan, Boston Herald, 24 Dec. 2025
The result is a memorial that aches with what’s missing as much as with what’s preserved.
—Literary Hub, 19 Dec. 2025
But my heart aches for baby Bowie.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
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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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
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 10 Jan. 2026.
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