1
as in sore
causing or feeling bodily pain
my poor, aching back
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in weeping
expressing or suggesting mourning
another one of those aching country songs about a woman who done him wrong
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in hurting
to feel or cause physical pain
my feet ache from all that walking
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 aching
Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 6 Feb. 2026
The performance — nuanced, aching and full of soul — has re-energized her place in the industry, and as Oscar season builds momentum, Hudson finds herself back in the Oscar conversation.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 21 Nov. 2025
Literary Hub, 11 Mar. 2026
The teams traded goals in the third before McAvoy and his aching mouth sent everyone home happy.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for aching
Adjective
And no matter what the ultimate tally, every individual is an aching, terrible loss.
—Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 6 Feb. 2026
The performance — nuanced, aching and full of soul — has re-energized her place in the industry, and as Oscar season builds momentum, Hudson finds herself back in the Oscar conversation.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 21 Nov. 2025
Verb
The difference was that now, I was filled with rage at the idea that states would soon force people into this world of aching love and every-three-hours feedings.
—Literary Hub, 11 Mar. 2026
The teams traded goals in the third before McAvoy and his aching mouth sent everyone home happy.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 11 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for aching
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aching
Adjective
-
Toronto's Brandon Ingram sat because of a sore right heel.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Vientos manned first base Thursday with Jorge Polanco still nursing a sore Achilles tendon.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
And every day, across from them, outside the clinic, about to enter or just leaving, there were women hugging each other and weeping.—
David Mamet,
National Review,
11 Aug. 2022
-
The show manages to stay on the brink — always laughing, never quite weeping — for its entire length.—
Helen Shaw,
Vulture,
8 Dec. 2021
Verb
-
Defense attorney Mary Chartier argued that there was reasonable doubt in the case, saying Dale Warner denied hurting his wife and cooperated with investigators during the search.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
5 Apr. 2026
-
That means eliminating Iran's Navy, which is now absolutely destroyed, hurting their Air Force and their missile program at levels never seen before, and annihilating their defense industrial base.—
James Powel,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
In the following months, painful shocks radiated through her chest and back.—
Brett Kelman,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2026
-
The images of that crash were shared widely online and caught Noah Williams' attention, triggering painful memories and taking him back to the day his own life changed forever.—
Karen Morfitt,
CBS News,
4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Then, in the Andante movement, the upper strings opened with a glassy sound before the mournful line of the cello entered.—
Sheila Regan,
Twin Cities,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Over the years, humpback whale songs have been recorded for human listening, with many describing the songs as having a haunting, mournful quality.—
Patrick Whittle,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The light bled red at Sixty-Seventh and Pacific, music throbbing through the speakers as Olivia Borsutzki relaxed her foot from the brake.—
Ira Gorawara,
New York Times,
28 Feb. 2026
-
And yet, as dynasties could emerge across a number of divisions in boys hockey this postseason, none should diminish what will be yet another heart-throbbing three weeks.—
Tom Mulherin,
Boston Herald,
23 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The plaintiffs’ lawyer, Jesse O’Hara, said his clients were distraught and heartbroken over the treatment of their baby.—
Rafael Olmeda,
Sun Sentinel,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Fayez Dakkak, a third-generation Muslim storeowner in the Old City whose shop has catered to Christian pilgrims since 1942, said he was heartbroken over Al Aqsa's closure during the Islamic holy month.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Her experience began with a tingling sensation starting in her fingertips and toes, then moving up the trunk of her body until visualizations began.—
Natalia V. Osipova,
CNN Money,
28 Mar. 2026
-
When levels drop, a woman can experience fatigue, brain fog, and tingling in the hands and feet without being anemic at all.—
Allison Palmer,
Sacbee.com,
20 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Aching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aching. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
