as in aching
causing or feeling bodily pain
a badly hurting finger kept her from writing neatly
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in throbbing
to feel or cause physical pain
my head hurts a bad sprain that really hurts I hurt all over
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in damaging
to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of
don't worry that you'll hurt the new lawn by walking across it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in injuring
to cause bodily damage to
the common belief that reading in poor light hurts your eyes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in grieving
to feel deep sadness or mental pain
I know you must be hurting from the cruel words they said
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hurting
Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 7 Jan. 2026
These are the most casual of gestures, not comparable to relatives hurting a child.
—Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 6 Jan. 2026
After struggling for much of the year, McCarthy had strung together a couple of quality performances before hurting his hand.
—Anthony Bettin, CBS News, 2 Jan. 2026
Six weeks ago, my shoulder started hurting.
—Monique Yohanan, Washington Post, 2 Jan. 2026
But that shortcut ends up hurting patients.
—Neil Gaffin, STAT, 29 Dec. 2025
Others were concerned about uncertainty or hurting businesses and consumers.
—Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 29 Dec. 2025
After more than 40 days of uncertainty for our troops, federal workers, Texas families who rely on SNAP, & countless others, Senate Democrats have relented after accomplishing nothing but hurting millions of Americans.
—Deputy News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Nov. 2025
Through a lovely combination of the track layout, cool conditions and a rough track surface hurting the tires, only one of the tire compounds (the medium) actually worked.
—Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 11 Nov. 2025
Verb
Not forcing her to go means hurting the other girl, forcing her to go means teaching your daughter that her own comfort should be subjugated to make someone else happy.
—Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 7 Jan. 2026
These are the most casual of gestures, not comparable to relatives hurting a child.
—Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 6 Jan. 2026
After struggling for much of the year, McCarthy had strung together a couple of quality performances before hurting his hand.
—Anthony Bettin, CBS News, 2 Jan. 2026
Six weeks ago, my shoulder started hurting.
—Monique Yohanan, Washington Post, 2 Jan. 2026
But that shortcut ends up hurting patients.
—Neil Gaffin, STAT, 29 Dec. 2025
Others were concerned about uncertainty or hurting businesses and consumers.
—Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 29 Dec. 2025
After more than 40 days of uncertainty for our troops, federal workers, Texas families who rely on SNAP, & countless others, Senate Democrats have relented after accomplishing nothing but hurting millions of Americans.
—Deputy News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Nov. 2025
Through a lovely combination of the track layout, cool conditions and a rough track surface hurting the tires, only one of the tire compounds (the medium) actually worked.
—Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 11 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hurting
Adjective
-
In this aching, unorthodox historical drama, Davies tells the story of the pacifist poet and veteran Siegfried Sassoon, whose experiences fighting in the First World War forever transformed him.—
Samantha Bergeson,
IndieWire,
5 Aug. 2025
-
Braxton shares an aching need to be vulnerable only to realize by album’s end that such unions can result in horrible betrayal, her words of lament surrounded by swelling, lush orchestration.—
Clarence A. Haynes
July 3,
Literary Hub,
3 July 2025
Verb
-
One person was taken into custody after a fire ripped through a synagogue in Mississippi, heavily damaging the historic house of worship in what authorities say was an act of arson.—
Charlotte Kramon,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Freezing foods quickly helps preserve texture by preventing large ice crystals from damaging delicate cell walls.—
Anne Wolf,
Martha Stewart,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Córdoba, Spain — A commuter passenger train derailed in Gelida, near the Spanish city of Barcelona on Tuesday, killing the driver and injuring 37 people, a spokesperson for the regional government of Catalonia told CNN.—
Pau Mosquera,
CNN Money,
21 Jan. 2026
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The e-bike collided with the car, and the driver, who police said was startled by the collision, accelerated across the street, killing Ayden and injuring a 6-year-old girl, both of whom were with their family in front of the restaurant.—
Caelyn Pender,
Mercury News,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The creative documentary filmmaker, a former Berkeley resident, culls together photos, home movies, songs and more to relate writer Andri Snær Magnason’s grieving process over the loss of relatives and a once-majestic glacier that is no more due to climate change.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
20 Jan. 2026
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In The Rip, Damon’s character, who is loosely based on Casiano, is grieving the loss of his 10-year-old son, Jake, to cancer.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
16 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Proper skin preparation is key to making your wax sessions less painful.—
Tatayana Yomary,
Essence,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The high fevers, hospitalizations, and dehydration that these illnesses cause can be painful and disruptive—and, with vaccines, avoidable.—
Tom Bartlett,
The Atlantic,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Including playoffs, Mayfield turned the ball over more than anyone else from 2023 through 2024, marring an otherwise fantastic two seasons in Tampa Bay.—
Jacob Robinson,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
-
An optional front rack on both models adds instant utility without marring the retro-fantastic looks.—
William Roberson,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The suspect, charged with murder and other crimes, allegedly shot at four people in separate vehicles in Prince George’s County, killing one and wounding two.—
Jasmine Golden,
Washington Post,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Faceworld members opened fire, killing Jordan and wounding another woman.—
Sam Charles,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Some people, friendship researchers told me, could be mourning a version of friendship that exists predominantly on social media and TV.—
Jenny Singer,
The Atlantic,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The Twiggs County community is mourning the loss of one of its beloved elementary school teachers.—
Dan Raby,
CBS News,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hurting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hurting. Accessed 24 Jan. 2026.
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