as in headaches
something that is a source of irritation
the constant need to cut costs was a hair shirt, but one that the theater company had to live with
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hair shirts
Noun
-
From plane seatback organizers to carry-on cup holders, these accessories can save you from boarding delays and other headaches—starting at $9.—
Jillian Dara,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Jan. 2026 -
The decades-old technology struggles to account for last-minute payroll changes and that can create all sorts of headaches for employees and departments alike.—
William Melhado,
Sacbee.com,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The Teyana Taylor x Air Jordan 1, her first sneaker collaboration, released in 2023 with a predominantly red colorway featuring green thorns on its Swoosh and a massive removable gold-tone metal charm featuring her initials and a rose.—
Ian Servantes,
Footwear News,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Make sure to wear leather gloves to protect your hands from rose thorns.—
Lauren Landers,
The Spruce,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Her film is an honorable attempt to dramatize the everyday agonies and frustrations of Red Crescent workers, to honor their quick thinking and astonishing courage under duress.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
14 Jan. 2026
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In Inkster, Michigan, dozens of residents have taken to social media to express their frustrations about high water bills.—
Veronica Ortega,
CBS News,
14 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The park doesn’t need all these associated nuisances.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
8 Jan. 2026
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In Milwaukee, nuisances include loud music, loitering and littering.—
Quinn Clark,
jsonline.com,
25 Dec. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Hair shirts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hair%20shirts. Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.
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