1
as in jobs
a dull, unpleasant, or difficult piece of work
filling out all the required forms was a real headache
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in frustrations
something that is a source of irritation
one of the headaches of being a band teacher is never knowing if the school's music program will be cut
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 headaches
The real story behind one of Texas’ biggest wildlife headaches starts with a decision the state made on purpose.
—
Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Apr. 2026
Some journalists draw a line between the government's mounting headaches and its escalating attacks on the messengers of that news.
—ABC News, 27 Apr. 2026
How To Prevent Termite Damage The best way to save yourself the headaches of termite removal and damage—and a large bill—is to prevent termites in the first place.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 27 Apr. 2026
Despite the behind-the-scenes headaches, the movie is already proving to be worth the hefty price tag.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 26 Apr. 2026
Her friend, Cheryl Appel-Schumacher, later testified that Ratliff had been suffering from headaches prior to her death, per CNN.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 26 Apr. 2026
This will mean that the US can produce the B-21 in numbers faster, but any undiscovered faults with the design could cause major headaches down the line.
—Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 26 Apr. 2026
Who gets more headaches, mothers or writers?
—Lit Hub Approved, Literary Hub, 23 Apr. 2026
Yes, there were permitting challenges and headaches to soothe along the way, but quick decision-making and a year-plus-long hustle has placed them near the finish line on Iliff Street.
—Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 22 Apr. 2026
Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Apr. 2026
Some journalists draw a line between the government's mounting headaches and its escalating attacks on the messengers of that news.
—ABC News, 27 Apr. 2026
How To Prevent Termite Damage The best way to save yourself the headaches of termite removal and damage—and a large bill—is to prevent termites in the first place.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 27 Apr. 2026
Despite the behind-the-scenes headaches, the movie is already proving to be worth the hefty price tag.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 26 Apr. 2026
Her friend, Cheryl Appel-Schumacher, later testified that Ratliff had been suffering from headaches prior to her death, per CNN.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 26 Apr. 2026
This will mean that the US can produce the B-21 in numbers faster, but any undiscovered faults with the design could cause major headaches down the line.
—Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 26 Apr. 2026
Who gets more headaches, mothers or writers?
—Lit Hub Approved, Literary Hub, 23 Apr. 2026
Yes, there were permitting challenges and headaches to soothe along the way, but quick decision-making and a year-plus-long hustle has placed them near the finish line on Iliff Street.
—Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 22 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for headaches
Noun
-
State jobs are also known for offering competitive benefits, including access to the nation’s largest public pension system.—
Angela Rodriguez
May 3,
Sacbee.com,
3 May 2026
-
And the workforce only got word of the loss of their jobs an hour before the official announcement.—
Emma Tucker,
CNN Money,
3 May 2026
Noun
-
The Patriots are also expected to trade for AJ Brown, a wide receiver known as much for his sideline frustrations and off-field antics as his production.—
Bobby Burack OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
29 Apr. 2026
-
After spending more than two million dollars on VIP jet charter services, his frustrations with the industry reached a boiling point.—
Connie Etemadi,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Additional rooms focus on killers such as John Wayne Gacy, known as the clown serial killer who was convicted of killing 33 young men and boys, and the Green River Killer, named Gary Ridgway, who was convicted of murdering 49 women between 1982 and 1998, among others.—
Lexi Lane,
PEOPLE,
2 May 2026
-
Do not use weed killers—weed manually.—
Lee Wallender,
The Spruce,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Those efforts resulted in criminal charges against Giuliani in two states and a defamation lawsuit from election workers in Georgia.—
James Powel,
USA Today,
4 May 2026
-
His mentoring efforts so far have mostly been further down the ballot.—
Peter Slevin,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
Previous modernization efforts The airport has previously suffered from a host of issues that have proved nuisances for travelers, including green liquid falling from the ceiling and broken escalators.—
Sarah Perkel,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2026
-
As a bonus, these plants are generally deer resistant, which may keep these nuisances from crossing over the garden border.—
Haniya Rae,
Martha Stewart,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
But those efforts might be better spent on easing caregivers’ administrative burdens than replacing their face time with patients.—
Catherine Thorbecke,
Mercury News,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Blanche said the changes bring gun regulations in line with Supreme Court precedent while cutting down on unnecessary burdens on firearms sellers and lawful gun owners.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Orlando’s defense caused problems early for Detroit when the Magic forced seven turnovers in the opening four minutes and jumped out to a 19-7 lead.—
Jason Beede,
The Orlando Sentinel,
28 Apr. 2026
-
In severe pain, Connecticut resident Tenaya Taylor sought treatment for dental problems a few years ago.—
Kaitlin McCallum,
Hartford Courant,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Also known as seaberry, Fried says this plant is notable for its resistance to deer because of its sharp thorns and tree-like height.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Use clean pruners to trim away shoots, thorns, or roots along the soil and to help maintain the tree’s size.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Headaches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/headaches. Accessed 4 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
