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
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 15 Feb. 2026
The Texas Legislature had just gutted the public education budget by $5 billion, directly hurting my students.
—Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
Investors have been concerned about the possibility of AI models hurting the growth prospects of software companies, including Salesforce.
—Jordan Novet, CNBC, 11 Feb. 2026
The assault in the restroom seems to fit into a pattern of men exploiting or hurting Sweetpea.
—Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 11 Feb. 2026
Kraft Heinz, like all big food companies, is also grappling with inflation-weary buyers cutting back spending or switching to generic labels as well as the rise of GLP-1 drugs hurting demand for snack food.
—Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 11 Feb. 2026
Though the Zilisch family wasn’t hurting, Jim couldn’t afford to be writing huge checks to fund his son’s racing.
—Jeff Gluck, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2026
But the specifics of hurting her?
—Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 11 Feb. 2026
That said, a season-ending injury to Zach Charbonnet leaves the Seahawks with only one dangerous runner, and Kenneth Walker is more adept at hurting defenses inside than on the edges, where the Patriots are weakest.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 8 Feb. 2026
Verb
Ask an arborist to assess whether the tree is at risk of falling and hurting people or property.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 15 Feb. 2026
The Texas Legislature had just gutted the public education budget by $5 billion, directly hurting my students.
—Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Feb. 2026
Investors have been concerned about the possibility of AI models hurting the growth prospects of software companies, including Salesforce.
—Jordan Novet, CNBC, 11 Feb. 2026
The assault in the restroom seems to fit into a pattern of men exploiting or hurting Sweetpea.
—Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 11 Feb. 2026
Kraft Heinz, like all big food companies, is also grappling with inflation-weary buyers cutting back spending or switching to generic labels as well as the rise of GLP-1 drugs hurting demand for snack food.
—Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 11 Feb. 2026
Though the Zilisch family wasn’t hurting, Jim couldn’t afford to be writing huge checks to fund his son’s racing.
—Jeff Gluck, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2026
But the specifics of hurting her?
—Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 11 Feb. 2026
That said, a season-ending injury to Zach Charbonnet leaves the Seahawks with only one dangerous runner, and Kenneth Walker is more adept at hurting defenses inside than on the edges, where the Patriots are weakest.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 8 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hurting
Adjective
-
And no matter what the ultimate tally, every individual is an aching, terrible loss.—
Arash Azizi,
The Atlantic,
6 Feb. 2026
-
The performance — nuanced, aching and full of soul — has re-energized her place in the industry, and as Oscar season builds momentum, Hudson finds herself back in the Oscar conversation.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
21 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Use a suede brush, limited water, and a suede-safe cleaner to gently clean your boots without damaging them.—
Caroline Lubinsky,
Martha Stewart,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Twice a day during high tide, water will come up over the retaining wall and flood the area, damaging the trees.—
Amy DeLaura,
The Washington Examiner,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The Department of Homeland Security accused protesters of injuring two federal officers and hitting an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer with a rock during a downtown student protest on Friday.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
17 Feb. 2026
-
At some point, police and prosecutors say shots were fired, injuring a local police officer.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
While a celebratory mood spreads across the country, survivors of a deadly fire in Hong Kong are still grieving with little to celebrate, like this man who lost his wife in the blaze.—
CNN staff,
CNN Money,
18 Feb. 2026
-
The book's ending also sees Heathcliff grieving for Cathy, but that's pretty much where the similarities end.—
Meg Walters,
Glamour,
16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Four years later, at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, Gabrielle Daleman could only bury her face in her hands after the Canadian’s disappointing free skate, her painful reaction beamed to a global audience.—
Dave Skretta,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Feb. 2026
-
As painful as this pain deep in the heart is, the healing has already begun with all the outpouring of love, prayers, and support.—
Alejandra Gularte,
Vulture,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
Miles Bridges and Moussa Diabate, along with Detroit’s Isaiah Stewart and Jalen Duren, were ejected for fighting, marring what was an intriguing game between the top team in the Eastern Conference and the one featuring the NBA’s longest current win streak.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The gunman, later identified by police as 35-year-old Patrick Madison, fired at officers, wounding Gasco.—
Mike Toole,
CBS News,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The shooting started after Neves Valente entered a study session in a Brown academic building and opened fire on students, killing 19-year-old sophomore Ella Cook and 18-year-old freshman Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov and wounding nine others.—
Corky Siemaszko,
NBC news,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Wiz Khalifa is mourning the loss of his father.—
Mitchell Peters,
Billboard,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Hollywood is in mourning once again after the news broke that Dawson’s Creek alum James Van Der Beek died Wednesday morning.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hurting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hurting. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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