SORE Synonyms: 435 Similar and Opposite Words

sore 1 of 3

adjective

ˈsȯr

Definition of sore

as in aching

causing or feeling bodily pain my legs are sore after that long walk yesterday

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in angry

feeling or showing anger promise not to get sore if I tell you what I really think of your new hairstyle?

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in cynical

having or showing deep-seated resentment he's been sore ever since she insulted him

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

sore

2 of 3

adverb

as in terribly

to a great degree I was sore afraid we'd never make it home

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

sore

3 of 3

noun

as in swelling

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Dissimilar Words

as in wart

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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 sore

Adjective

This leads to the build up of lactic acid, which is what makes your muscles feel sore. — Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 12 July 2026 Strait of Hormuz closed The strait, the key waterway that served as the route for roughly one-fifth the world’s oil supply before the war, has been a sore spot for Iran and the United States amid attempts to broker peace. — Dennis Romero, NBC news, 11 July 2026

Adverb

Guys come up sore all the time. — Matt Kawahara, Houston Chronicle, 11 Feb. 2026 The Indiana Supreme Court heard oral arguments in September in the case of a man who entered a hospital with COVID-19 in January 2022, developed an infection from a bed sore and died that March. — Madeline Heim, jsonline.com, 21 Nov. 2025

Noun

As the maggots multiply, the wound becomes an open, rotting sore on the surface of the animal’s skin, sometimes attracting other fly species with the smell of rotting flesh. — Evan Bush, NBC news, 7 June 2026 This has been a ling-running sore for millions of Windows PC owners. — Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 4 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for sore

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sore

Adjective

The homestretch of the drama, however, takes the story in a chilling direction, packing an aching quantity of feeling into a single glance at a security camera as someone climbs into a car and leaves the compound, never to be heard from again.

— Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 26 May 2026
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

Definition of aching

Adjective

Around the world, angry locals displaced from their neighborhoods by the high cost of living are revolting against the $135 billion short-term rental industry.

— Linda Robertson, Miami Herald, 16 July 2026
In person, the range-topping Spider looks hilariously boxy up front, deliciously wedgy from the side, and surprisingly angry from the back.

— Jerry Perez, The Drive, 15 July 2026

Definition of angry

Adjective

To complete the drama, England finished with 13, Argentina with 15 when Henry Pollock was sent to the sin-bin over team infringements and Emmanuel Iyogun, on debut, for cynical offending.

— ABC News, ABC News, 18 July 2026
Booked even earlier than Romero for a cynical foul, he was substituted partly out of fear of a second yellow in the 72nd minute.

— Liam Twomey, New York Times, 16 July 2026

Definition of cynical

Noun

For lipedema, Power Plate points to research suggesting whole-body vibration boosts lymphatic flow, which may liquefy and drain stubborn lymph fluid, relieve swelling and ease chronic pain.

— Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 14 July 2026
In rare cases, large amounts can cause throat swelling and difficulty breathing.

— Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 14 July 2026

Definition of swelling

Noun

Without the complication of his father’s political career and (one hopes) without political ambitions of his own, Hunter seems to be expressing something closer to his authentic self, warts and all.

— David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 8 June 2026
Some blame the faction of party leaders who rallied behind Platner in spite of his warts.

— Julia Terruso, Time, 8 June 2026

Definition of wart

Adjective

When asked whether this was the most painful moment of his football career, Tuchel would not commit.

— Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 18 July 2026
England was knocked out of the World Cup in painful fashion on Wednesday, surrendering two goals in the final 15 minutes of its semifinal clash with Argentina.

— Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 18 July 2026

Definition of painful

Adjective

The book-club members roundly disliked it, indignant that the character was being driven mad by perimenopause, as if hormone-replacement therapy didn’t exist.

— Melanie Thernstrom, New Yorker, 29 June 2026
Judge Timothy Mazzei asked him Wednesday in a loud, indignant voice.

— Philip Marcelo, Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2026

Definition of indignant

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“Sore.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sore. Accessed 22 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of sore

adjective

adverb

noun

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