Word forms: comparative sorer, superlative sorest, plural sores
1. adjective
If part of your body is sore, it causes you pain and discomfort.
It's years since I've had a sore throat like I did last night.
My chest is still sore from the surgery.
Synonyms: painful, smarting, raw, tender More Synonyms of sore
sorenessuncountable noun
The soreness lasted for about six weeks.
2. adjective [verb-link ADJECTIVE]
If you are sore about something, you are angry and upset about it.
[mainly US, informal]
The result is that they are now all feeling very sore at you. [+ at/about]
They are sore about losing to England in the quarter-finals.
Synonyms: annoyed, cross, angry, pained More Synonyms of sore
3. countable noun
A sore is a painful place on the body where the skin is infected.
Synonyms: abscess, boil, ulcer, inflammation More Synonyms of sore
4. See also cold sore
5.
See a sore point
6. to stick out like a sore thumb
More Synonyms of sore
sore in British English
(sɔː)
adjective
1.
(esp of a wound, injury, etc) painfully sensitive; tender
2.
causing annoyance
a sore point
3.
resentful; irked
he was sore that nobody believed him
4.
urgent; pressing
in sore need
5. (postpositive)
grieved; distressed
6.
causing grief or sorrow
noun
7.
a painful or sensitive wound, injury, etc
8.
any cause of distress or vexation
adverb
9. archaic
direly; sorely (now only in such phrases as sore pressed, sore afraid)
Derived forms
soreness (ˈsoreness)
noun
Word origin
Old English sār; related to Old Norse sārr, Old High German sēr, Gothic sair sore, Latin saevus angry
sore in American English
(sɔr)
adjectiveWord forms: ˈsorer or ˈsorest
1.
a.
giving physical pain; painful; tender
a sore throat
b.
feeling physical pain, as from wounds, bruises, etc.
to be sore all over
2.
a.
filled with sadness, grief, or sorrow; distressed
with a sore heart
b.
causing sadness, grief, misery, or distress
a sore hardship
c.
distressingly intense or bitter; extreme
a sore lack
3.
provocative of irritation or disagreeable feelings
a sore point
4. US, Informal
angry; offended; feeling hurt or resentful
noun
5.
a sore, usually infected spot on the body, as an ulcer, boil, or blister
6.
a source of pain, irritation, grief, distress, etc.
adverbWord forms: ˈsorer or ˈsorest
7. Archaic
sorely; greatly
verb transitiveWord forms: sored or ˈsoring
8. US
to inflict soring on (a horse)
Derived forms
soreness (ˈsoreness)
noun
Word origin
ME sor < OE sar, akin to Ger sehr, very, lit., sore < IE base *sai-, pain, sickness > L saevus, raging, terrible, OIr sāeth, illness
More idioms containing
sore
be like a bear with a sore head
be a sore point with someone
a sight for sore eyes
someone or something sticks out like a sore thumb
Examples of 'sore' in a sentence
sore
The personal touch of their pastor soothes sore feelings.
Christianity Today (2000)
We stuck out like sore thumbs but had some of the best nights of our lives.
The Sun (2015)
Do your legs and arms sometimes feel sore and tight?
Hambly, Dr Kenneth Banish Anxiety - how to stop worrying and take charge of your life (1991)
The branding question remains an open sore.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
There will be a lot of tough points to play when your legs are sore and burning.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The real reason behind her absence was a sore throat.
The Sun (2011)
My mouth was still sore and my antibiotics had yet to arrive.
The Sun (2010)
No wonder some are feeling a bit sore now.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The disease causes sores which weep a red liquid.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
He needed a cortisone injection to ease the pain in a sore ankle.
The Sun (2015)
Unlimited venture capitalism rode in gaudy style down streets lined with beggars showing off their sores and wounds.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
High tackle count equals sore body.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
It causes painful blisters and sores.
The Sun (2012)
For example, an infected cold sore or an insect bite.
The Sun (2008)
You do the rehab, the body is sore.
The Sun (2009)
It is to be hoped that Kit did see some of the money, as he was in sore need of it.
Rodney Bolt HISTORY PLAY: The Lives and After-life of Christopher Marlowe (2004)
In other languages
sore
British English: sore /sɔː/ ADJECTIVE
If part of your body is sore, it causes you pain and discomfort.
...a sore throat.
American English: sore
Arabic: مُؤْلِم
Brazilian Portuguese: dolorido
Chinese: 疼痛的
Croatian: bolan
Czech: bolestivý
Danish: øm
Dutch: pijnlijk
European Spanish: dolorido
Finnish: kipeä
French: douloureux
German: wund
Greek: ερεθισμένος
Italian: dolorante
Japanese: 痛い
Korean: 아픈
Norwegian: sår
Polish: obolały
European Portuguese: dorido
Romanian: dureros
Russian: болезненный
Latin American Spanish: dolorido
Swedish: öm
Thai: เจ็บปวด
Turkish: ağrılı
Ukrainian: хворий
Vietnamese: đau
British English: sore /sɔː/ NOUN
A sore is a painful spot on your body where the skin is infected.
Our hands were covered with sores from the ropes.
American English: sore
Arabic: قَرْحَة
Brazilian Portuguese: ferida
Chinese: 痛处
Croatian: rana
Czech: bolavé místo
Danish: ømhed
Dutch: zweer
European Spanish: llaga
Finnish: haava
French: douleur
German: Wunde
Greek: πληγή
Italian: piaga
Japanese: さわると痛いところ
Korean: 상처
Norwegian: sår
Polish: rana
European Portuguese: ferida
Romanian: inflamație
Russian: больное место
Latin American Spanish: llaga
Swedish: sår
Thai: ความเจ็บ
Turkish: yara
Ukrainian: хворе місце
Vietnamese: vết thương
All related terms of 'sore'
cold sore
Cold sores are small sore spots that sometimes appear on or near someone's lips and nose when they have a cold.
sore neck
Your neck is the part of your body which joins your head to the rest of your body.
canker sore
an ulceration , esp of the lips or lining of the oral cavity
saddle-sore
sore after riding a horse
sore loser
The losers of a game, contest , or struggle are the people who are defeated or beaten.
sore throat
a painful or sensitive condition of the throat exaggerated by swallowing or talking, usually caused by bacteria or viruses ; laryngitis; pharyngitis ; tonsillitis
a sore point
If something is a sore point with someone, it is likely to make them angry or embarrassed if you try to discuss it.
ecthyma
a local inflammation of the skin characterized by flat ulcerating pustules
fever blister
Fever blisters are small sore spots that sometimes appear on or near someone's lips and nose when they have a cold .
canker
A canker is something evil that spreads and affects things or people.
decubitus ulcer
a chronic ulcer of the skin and underlying tissues caused by prolonged pressure on the body surface of bedridden patients
a sight for sore eyes
said to mean that something gives you a lot of pleasure when you look at it
be a sore point with someone
if a particular subject is a sore point with someone, it makes them feel angry , embarrassed , or upset
to stick out like a sore thumb
If you say that someone or something sticks out like a sore thumb or stands out like a sore thumb , you are emphasizing that they are very noticeable , usually because they are unusual or inappropriate .
be like a bear with a sore head
to behave in a very bad-tempered and angry way
someone or something sticks out like a sore thumb
said to mean that someone or something is very noticeable because they are very different from the other people or things around them
stick out a mile
to be extremely obvious
Chinese translation of 'sore'
sore
(sɔːʳ)
adj
(= painful) 痛的 (tòng de)
(US, inf, = angry) 恼(惱)火的 (nǎohuǒ de)
n(c)
痛处(處) (tòngchù)
it's a sore point (with him)这(這)是(他的一个(個))痛处(處) (zhè shì (tā de yī gè) tòngchù)
to be sore about sth (US, inf) 因某事生气(氣) (yīn mǒushì shēngqì)
to be sore at sb (US, inf) 生某人的气(氣) (shēng mǒurén de qì)
All related terms of 'sore'
cold sore
唇(脣)疮(瘡)疹 chúnchuāngzhěn
it's a sore point (with him)
这(這)是(他的一个(個))痛处(處) zhè shì (tā de yī gè) tòngchù
to be sore at sb
( US : inf ) 生某人的气(氣) shēng mǒurén de qì
to be sore about sth
( US : inf ) 因某事生气(氣) yīn mǒushì shēngqì
to have a sore throat
嗓子疼 sǎngzi téng
1 (adjective)
Definition
(of a wound, injury, etc.) painfully sensitive
My chest is still sore from the surgery.
Synonyms
painful
Her glands were swollen and painful.
smarting
raw
the drag of the rope against the raw flesh of my shoulder
tender
My tummy felt very tender.
burning
angry
He had two angry cuts across his forehead.
sensitive
gentle cosmetics for sensitive skin
irritated
inflamed
Her eyes were sore and inflamed.
chafed
reddened
2 (adjective)
Definition
upset and angered
The result of it is that they are all feeling very sore at you.
Synonyms
annoyed
She tapped her forehead and looked annoyed with herself.
cross
Everyone was getting bored and cross.
angry
an angry rant
pained
He looked at me with a pained expression.
hurt
He gave me a slightly hurt look.
upset
She was really upset when her best friend moved halfway across the world.
stung
I was stung by her attitude.
irritated
grieved
pissed (US, slang)
Why is she so pissed at you?
pissed (off) (taboo, slang)
resentful
He turned away in a resentful silence.
aggrieved
I really feel aggrieved at this sort of thing.
vexed
He was vexed by the art establishment's rejection of his work.
irked
peeved (informal)
Susan couldn't help feeling a little peeved.
tooshie (Australian, slang)
hoha (New Zealand)
3 (adjective)
Definition
causing annoyance and resentment
Timing is frequently a sore point.
Synonyms
annoying
You must have found my attitude annoying.
distressing
the distressing symptoms of anxiety
troublesome
The economy has become a troublesome problem for the party.
harrowing
a harrowing description of the disaster
grievous
He survived in spite of suffering grievous injuries.
4 (adjective)
Definition
urgent
The prime minister is in sore need of friends.
Synonyms
urgent
There is an urgent need for food and water.
desperate
Troops are needed to get food to people in desperate need.
extreme
people living in extreme poverty
dire
We found ourselves in a dire predicament.
pressing
There is a pressing need for more funds.
critical
The incident happened at a critical point in the campaign.
acute
The war aggravated an acute economic crisis.
(noun)
Definition
a painful or sensitive wound or injury
All of us had long sores on our backs.
Synonyms
abscess
In the case of an abscess, seek medical treatment immediately.
boil
a boil on his nose
ulcer
In addition to headaches, you may develop stomach ulcers.
inflammation
The drug can cause inflammation of the liver.
gathering
Additional synonyms
in the sense of acute
Definition
(of a disease) sudden and severe
The war aggravated an acute economic crisis.
Synonyms
serious,
important,
dangerous,
critical,
crucial (informal),
alarming,
severe,
grave,
sudden,
urgent,
decisive
in the sense of aggrieved
Definition
upset and angry
I really feel aggrieved at this sort of thing.
Synonyms
hurt,
wronged,
injured,
harmed,
disturbed,
distressed,
unhappy,
afflicted,
saddened,
woeful,
peeved (informal),
ill-used
in the sense of angry
Definition
severely inflamed
He had two angry cuts across his forehead.
Synonyms
inflamed,
severe,
painful,
nasty,
swollen,
sore
Synonyms of 'sore'
sore
Explore 'sore' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of angry
Definition
feeling or expressing annoyance or rage
an angry rant
Synonyms
furious,
cross,
heated,
mad (informal),
raging,
provoked,
outraged,
annoyed,
passionate,
irritated,
raving,
hacked (off) (US, slang),
choked,
pissed (taboo, slang),
infuriated,
hot,
incensed,
enraged,
ranting,
exasperated,
irritable,
resentful,
nettled,
snappy,
indignant,
pissed off (taboo, slang),
irate,
tumultuous,
displeased,
uptight (informal),
riled,
up in arms,
incandescent,
ill-tempered,
irascible,
antagonized,
waspish,
piqued,
hot under the collar (informal),
on the warpath,
hopping mad (informal),
foaming at the mouth,
choleric,
splenetic,
wrathful,
at daggers drawn,
in high dudgeon,
as black as thunder,
ireful,
fit to be tied (slang),
tooshie (Australian, slang),
off the air (Australian, slang),
aerated
in the sense of boil
Definition
a red painful swelling with a hard pus-filled core caused by infection of the skin
a boil on his nose
Synonyms
pustule,
gathering (informal),
swelling,
blister,
blain,
carbuncle,
furuncle
in the sense of burning
Synonyms
stinging,
biting,
smarting,
painful,
piercing,
irritating,
tingling,
reeking,
pungent,
caustic,
acrid,
prickling
in the sense of critical
Definition
very important or dangerous
The incident happened at a critical point in the campaign.
Synonyms
crucial,
decisive,
momentous,
deciding,
pressing,
serious,
vital,
psychological,
urgent,
all-important,
pivotal,
high-priority,
now or never
in the sense of cross
Definition
angry
Everyone was getting bored and cross.
Synonyms
angry,
impatient,
irritable,
annoyed,
put out,
hacked (off) (informal),
pissed (taboo, slang),
crusty,
snappy,
grumpy,
vexed,
pissed off (taboo, slang),
sullen,
surly,
fractious,
petulant,
disagreeable,
short,
churlish,
peeved (informal),
ill-tempered,
irascible,
cantankerous,
tetchy,
ratty (British, New Zealand, informal),
tooshie (Australian, slang),
testy,
fretful,
waspish,
in a bad mood,
grouchy (informal),
querulous,
shirty (slang, British),
peevish,
splenetic,
crotchety (informal),
snappish,
ill-humoured,
liverish,
captious,
pettish,
out of humour,
hoha (New Zealand)
in the sense of desperate
Definition
very grave
Troops are needed to get food to people in desperate need.
Synonyms
grave,
great,
pressing,
serious,
critical,
acute,
severe,
extreme,
urgent,
dire,
drastic,
very grave
in the sense of dire
Definition
disastrous, urgent, or terrible
We found ourselves in a dire predicament.
Synonyms
desperate,
pressing,
crying,
critical,
terrible,
crucial,
alarming,
extreme,
awful,
appalling,
urgent,
cruel,
horrible,
disastrous,
grim,
dreadful,
gloomy,
fearful (informal),
dismal,
drastic,
catastrophic,
ominous,
horrid (informal),
woeful,
ruinous,
calamitous,
cataclysmic,
portentous,
godawful (slang),
exigent,
bodeful
in the sense of distressing
the distressing symptoms of anxiety
Synonyms
upsetting,
worrying,
disturbing,
painful,
affecting,
sad,
afflicting,
harrowing,
grievous,
hurtful,
lamentable,
heart-breaking,
nerve-racking,
gut-wrenching,
distressful (literary)
in the sense of extreme
Definition
of a high or the highest degree or intensity
people living in extreme poverty
Synonyms
great,
high,
highest,
greatest,
worst,
supreme,
acute,
severe,
maximum,
intense,
ultimate,
utmost,
mother of all (informal),
uttermost
in the sense of grievous
Definition
very severe or painful
He survived in spite of suffering grievous injuries.
Synonyms
severe,
damaging,
heavy,
wounding,
grave,
painful,
distressing,
dreadful,
harmful,
afflicting,
calamitous,
injurious
Additional synonyms
in the sense of harrowing
Definition
very upsetting or disturbing
a harrowing description of the disaster
Synonyms
distressing,
disturbing,
alarming,
frightening,
painful,
terrifying,
chilling,
traumatic,
tormenting,
heartbreaking,
excruciating,
agonizing,
nerve-racking,
heart-rending,
gut-wrenching
in the sense of hurt
Definition
injured or pained
He gave me a slightly hurt look.
Synonyms
upset,
pained,
injured,
wounded,
sad,
crushed,
offended,
aggrieved,
miffed (informal),
rueful,
piqued,
tooshie (Australian, slang)
in the sense of inflamed
Her eyes were sore and inflamed.
Synonyms
swollen,
sore,
red,
hot,
angry,
infected,
fevered,
festering,
chafing,
septic
in the sense of inflammation
Definition
an inflaming or being inflamed
The drug can cause inflammation of the liver.
Synonyms
swelling,
soreness,
burning,
heat,
sore,
rash,
tenderness,
redness,
painfulness
in the sense of pained
Definition
having or suggesting pain or distress
He looked at me with a pained expression.
Synonyms
distressed,
worried,
hurt,
injured,
wounded,
upset,
unhappy,
stung,
offended,
aggrieved,
anguished,
miffed (informal),
reproachful
in the sense of peeved
Susan couldn't help feeling a little peeved.
Synonyms
irritated,
upset,
annoyed,
put out,
hacked off (informal),
sore,
pissed (US, slang),
galled,
exasperated,
nettled,
vexed,
pissed off (taboo, slang),
irked,
riled,
piqued,
tooshie (Australian, slang)
in the sense of pissed
Definition
angry
Why is she so pissed at you?
Synonyms
angry,
cross,
furious,
mad (informal),
annoyed,
pissed off (taboo, slang),
displeased,
irked,
tooshie (Australian, slang)
in the sense of pressing
Definition
demanding immediate attention
There is a pressing need for more funds.
Synonyms
urgent,
serious,
burning,
vital,
crucial (informal),
imperative,
important,
constraining,
high-priority,
now or never,
importunate (formal),
exigent
in the sense of raw
Definition
(of the skin or a wound) painful, with the surface scraped away
the drag of the rope against the raw flesh of my shoulder
Synonyms
sore,
open,
skinned,
sensitive,
tender,
scratched,
grazed,
chafed,
abraded
in the sense of resentful
He turned away in a resentful silence.
Synonyms
bitter,
hurt,
wounded,
angry,
offended,
put out,
jealous,
choked,
pissed (British, Australian, New Zealand, slang),
incensed,
grudging,
exasperated,
aggrieved,
indignant,
pissed off (taboo, slang),
irate,
miffed (informal),
embittered,
unforgiving,
peeved (informal),
in a huff,
piqued,
huffy,
in high dudgeon,
revengeful,
huffish,
tooshie (Australian, slang)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of sensitive
Definition
easily hurt
gentle cosmetics for sensitive skin
Synonyms
delicate,
tender,
fragile,
raw,
painful,
sore,
easily damaged
in the sense of stung
I was stung by her attitude.
Synonyms
hurt,
wounded,
angered,
roused,
incensed,
exasperated,
resentful,
nettled,
goaded,
piqued
in the sense of tender
Definition
painful when touched
My tummy felt very tender.
Synonyms
sensitive,
painful,
sore,
smarting,
raw,
bruised,
irritated,
aching,
inflamed
in the sense of troublesome
Definition
causing trouble
The economy has become a troublesome problem for the party.
Synonyms
bothersome,
trying,
taxing,
demanding,
difficult,
worrying,
upsetting,
annoying,
irritating,
tricky,
harassing,
oppressive,
arduous,
tiresome,
inconvenient,
laborious,
burdensome,
hard,
worrisome,
irksome,
wearisome,
vexatious,
importunate,
pestilential,
plaguy (informal)
in the sense of ulcer
Definition
an open sore on the surface of the skin or a mucous membrane
In addition to headaches, you may develop stomach ulcers.
Synonyms
sore,
abscess,
gathering (informal),
peptic ulcer,
gumboil
in the sense of upset
Definition
emotionally or physically disturbed or distressed
She was really upset when her best friend moved halfway across the world.
Synonyms
distressed,
shaken,
disturbed,
worried,
troubled,
hurt,
bothered,
confused,
unhappy,
gutted (British, informal),
put out,
dismayed,
choked (informal),
grieved,
frantic,
hassled (informal),
agitated,
ruffled,
cut up (informal),
disconcerted,
disquieted,
overwrought,
discomposed
in the sense of vexed
Definition
annoyed and puzzled
He was vexed by the art establishment's rejection of his work.