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
Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026
My head was hurting really bad.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2026
Yet Dupuy-Spencer continued to struggle personally and financially, hurting her prospects of completing her art education.
—Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 11 Apr. 2026
Correspondent Seth Doane looks at how China's long-term investments in innovation are paying off in EVs – and how protective tariffs may end up hurting American automakers down the road.
—David Morgan, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026
This has created a chaotic transition period, potentially hurting engineers who are reluctant to use AI or struggle to keep up with the technology.
—Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2026
His specialty is hurt people hurting people in ways both cruel and comic.
—Sarah Rodman, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Apr. 2026
But two straight losses after leading early in each game was painful for coach Chris Bertolero, who was already hurting after being semi-sidelined following rotator cuff surgery.
—Steve Brand, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Apr. 2026
The analyst noted that discretionary spending could decline due to worsening macroeconomic conditions amid the Iran war, hurting Carvana and its competitors' bottom lines.
—Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 6 Apr. 2026
Verb
With less threat of high inflation hurting the economy, a sustained drop in oil prices could convince the Federal Reserve to resume its cuts to interest rates to help the economy.
—Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026
My head was hurting really bad.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2026
Yet Dupuy-Spencer continued to struggle personally and financially, hurting her prospects of completing her art education.
—Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 11 Apr. 2026
Correspondent Seth Doane looks at how China's long-term investments in innovation are paying off in EVs – and how protective tariffs may end up hurting American automakers down the road.
—David Morgan, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026
This has created a chaotic transition period, potentially hurting engineers who are reluctant to use AI or struggle to keep up with the technology.
—Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2026
His specialty is hurt people hurting people in ways both cruel and comic.
—Sarah Rodman, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Apr. 2026
But two straight losses after leading early in each game was painful for coach Chris Bertolero, who was already hurting after being semi-sidelined following rotator cuff surgery.
—Steve Brand, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Apr. 2026
The analyst noted that discretionary spending could decline due to worsening macroeconomic conditions amid the Iran war, hurting Carvana and its competitors' bottom lines.
—Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 6 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hurting
Adjective
-
Charles Frazier, Cold Mountain (1997) Charles Frazier’s Cold Mountain is an aching, tender slow burn shaped by absence.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Apr. 2026
-
The dramatic and aching second movement, according to Egarr, may have been a love letter to one of Beethoven’s romantic interests.—
Sheila Regan,
Twin Cities,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
One of the vehicles apparently also slammed into the rear of a parked silver BMW, damaging it, as well.—
Nicholas Williams,
New York Daily News,
12 Apr. 2026
-
On Friday, the actor and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series racer was involved in wreck with Tyler Reif and Timmy Hill on the Bristol Motor Speedway, damaging his Malcolm in the Middle themed Ford F-150 and taking him out of the race.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Returning Wednesday against the Twins would mean Soto missed 15 games after injuring his right calf while running the bases on April 3 in San Francisco.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
21 Apr. 2026
-
In the 1990s, the city of Carrollton came under scrutiny after killing and injuring birds in a rookery.—
Emily Holshouser,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Spence’s grieving son said his dad’s death and the death of little Kaori Patterson-Moore, a 7-month-old who died after being struck in the head by a stray bullet earlier this month, should be a wake-up call for the city.—
Rocco Parascandola,
New York Daily News,
21 Apr. 2026
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How much to rely on that bot – and when to let go – is a moral quandary for the grieving former combat surgeon who had her license revoked after a tragedy.—
Anika Reed,
USA Today,
17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Think about caring for an ill mate, losing income because of having to give up your job, having difficulty paying your bills and suffering from painful arthritis while serving as the unpaid caregiver.—
Helen Dennis,
Daily News,
19 Apr. 2026
-
Jan Garrod said the cost of farming and trucking with the skyrocketing cost of diesel is almost too painful to think about.—
Laura Ness,
Mercury News,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Ancient lava fields can be seen as dark lunar maria marring the silvery lunar surface, which themselves are threaded with bright streaks of reflective debris strewn across the surface by violent asteroid strikes.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The demoralizing graffiti marring the main entrance to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at 360 Lenox Ave.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
12 Feb. 2026
Verb
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During Thursday's attacks, the Conservatory's student accommodation was hit by a Russian drone, wounding five, officials said.—
Flora Bigham,
ABC News,
19 Apr. 2026
-
Harwood was struck three times, and Morisson was struck once, mortally wounding both.—
Nick Penzenstadler,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
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More than a week since a tragic shooting struck a Denver family during an Easter barbecue near Russell Square Park, one mother is now mourning the loss of her son.—
Gabriela Vidal,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
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As Abel awaits his next court date, friends and family are mourning Bullis’ tragic loss.—
KC Baker,
PEOPLE,
14 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hurting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hurting. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
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