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
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Patients can also experience fever, headaches and body aches.—
Kelly McCarthy,
ABC News,
10 Mar. 2026 -
Donor requests for internships for their family members also led to overcrowding in the office and logistical headaches for schedulers, one former staffer said.—
Dan Petrella,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Lisianthus, sometimes referred to as the rose without thorns, is a favorite among florists and gardeners alike.—
Cori Sears,
The Spruce,
5 Mar. 2026
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As a bonus, currant shrubs lack the thorns found on many other berry bushes.—
Anne Readel,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Since October, residents along the Interstate 77 corridor have expressed frustrations with the North Carolina Department of Transportation plans, which at one point included removing homes from historically Black neighborhoods.—
Desiree Mathurin,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Mar. 2026
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Community responds with skepticism, disdain Online, Austinites voiced their frustrations with the club’s pattern of financial setbacks.—
Julianna Duennes Russ,
Austin American Statesman,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Many of those surveyed said homelessness, loitering, drug use and public nuisances, along with protracted and intensive municipal construction projects, deter customers from visiting establishments.—
Miguel Otárola,
Denver Post,
5 Mar. 2026
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Property owners who tolerate habitual nuisances will have to meet certain standards set by the city and pay fees to reimburse the city for enforcement resources.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
24 Feb. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Hair shirts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hair%20shirts. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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