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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Common symptoms include headaches, fever, diarrhea, muscle weakness, tingling or numbness, neck stiffness or flu-like symptoms.—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
17 June 2026 -
This first patient had fever, headaches, muscle pain, malaise, loss of appetite, diarrhea and abdominal pain, among other symptoms.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
16 June 2026
Noun
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Even delicate feline nostrils and curved claws that could scratch like thorns won her undying admiration.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Dec. 2025
-
Always wear thick leather gloves to protect against this plant's sharp thorns.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Fried issued her statement to the Herald in response to questions about frustrations with the party’s silence on Wasserman Schultz’s run.—
Claire Heddles,
Miami Herald,
11 June 2026
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Those frustrations turned to elation last summer when not only did Uzbekistan finally qualify, but did so with a game to spare when edging out the United Arab Emirates and Qatar in their group.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
10 June 2026
Noun
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Rather than mere observational nuisances or purely destructive forces, these eruptions can be read as messages from the star, offering key insights into the potential habitability of its planets and informing the broader search for life beyond Earth.—
Samantha Mathewson,
Space.com,
8 Dec. 2025
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At the same time, Daugherty said, city attorneys are drafting an ordinance to designate properties like those mentioned above as habitual nuisances.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 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 18 Jun. 2026.
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