sore

1 of 3

adjective

sorer; sorest
1
a
: causing emotional pain or distress
a sore subject
b
: physically tender (as from overuse or injury) : feeling or affected by pain : achy
sore muscles
limped on a sore leg
felt sore all over
2
: attended by difficulties, hardship, or exertion
3
: angry, irked
a sore loser
soreness noun

sore

2 of 3

noun

1
: a localized sore spot on the body
especially : one (such as an ulcer) with the tissues ruptured or abraded and usually with infection
2
: a source of pain or vexation : affliction

sore

3 of 3

adverb

: sorely

Examples of sore in a Sentence

Adjective a dog limping on a sore leg The patient has a sore throat. That's a sore subject to bring up. The discussion touched on a sore spot. My neighbor is sore at me. Are you still sore about what happened last night? Noun He has a sore on his lip. Adverb I was sore afraid we'd never make it home.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Emmet Sheehan, who went 4-1 with a 4.92 ERA in 13 games as a rookie last season, has been slowed by a sore shoulder and won’t pitch in Cactus League games, opening the door for Gavin Stone or Ryan Yarbrough to win rotation spots. Mike Digiovanna, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2024 The situation is especially volatile given that 25% of all office building debt will mature in 2024, and that sector has been a sore spot amid remote and hybrid work trends. Will Daniel, Fortune, 5 Mar. 2024 While sore after the game, Adebayo was healthy enough to play the entire fourth quarter on Saturday. Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 3 Mar. 2024 Even as the inflation rate has cooled across the US economy, child care remains a sore spot for many families. Matt Egan, CNN, 2 Mar. 2024 That’s been a sore spot for Android users, as many third-party Wear OS watches are still missing the digital assistant. Victoria Song, The Verge, 26 Feb. 2024 LaMelo Ball returned after a one-game absence due to a sore right ankle and had 18 points and 13 assists. Phil Ervin, USA TODAY, 22 Feb. 2024 Get out of the cold and give your sore legs a break inside the Vilar Performing Arts Center, a cozy and architecturally stunning theater right in the heart of the village. Jen Murphy, Travel + Leisure, 13 Feb. 2024 Open from dusk to dawn every day, and free to the public, this gorgeous garden is a sight for sore eyes. Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 23 Feb. 2024
Noun
Eventually the sores will crust over and form scabs, which finally fall off. Stephen C. George, Discover Magazine, 5 Mar. 2024 The sores often heal without intervention, leading people to believe that the issue is over. Rachel Murphy, Verywell Health, 9 Feb. 2024 During the primary stage of infection, people get sores around the infection site. Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Feb. 2024 But her cancer drug causes joint pain, fatigue and mouth sores that make eating and drinking painful. Carla K. Johnson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Feb. 2024 Preventable adverse health events, such as bed sores, falls and medication errors, also have increased in frequency across Minnesota’s hospitals amid the pandemic, per the Minnesota Department of Health’s 2023 Adverse Health Events in Minnesota report. Dené K. Dryden, Twin Cities, 1 Feb. 2024 Doctors noted four additional sores on other parts of his body, and sent swabs of the lesions to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for testing. Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 13 Feb. 2024 Saltwater is rich with minerals like magnesium, zinc, iron, and potassium, which all help reduce inflammation, protect the skin, and heal any scrapes, cuts, or sores. Judy Koutsky, Forbes, 11 Feb. 2024 Precautions like using lip balm and sunscreen go a long way towards staving off sores—as can keeping a journal of possible triggers and learning to avoid them. Mark Hay, SELF, 26 Jan. 2024
Adverb
Starting guard Malcolm Brogdon (rest), rookies Chris Duarte (sore left big toe) and Isaiah Jackson (headache), and second-year center Jalen Smith (illness) were out as well, making a tough game even tougher. James Boyd, The Indianapolis Star, 25 Mar. 2022 Eventually, an infection in the sore reached Figueroa’s hip bone. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Oct. 2023 For the Pacers, All-Star point guard Tyrese Haliburton (knee bruise), center Myles Turner (sore back) and backup point guard T.J. McConnell (sore back) are each questionable to play. Detroit Free Press, 11 Mar. 2023 Keita Bates-Diop (sore back), Josh Primo (stomach illmess). Jeff McDonald, San Antonio Express-News, 11 Mar. 2022 The Pacers were without Oshae Brissett (sore back), Malcolm Brogdon (rest), Chris Duarte (left big toe), Isaiah Jackson (headache), T.J. McConnell (right wrist), Ricky Rubio (left ACL), Myles Turner (stress reaction in left foot), T.J. Warren (stress fracture in left foot) and Duane Washington Jr. James Boyd, The Indianapolis Star, 29 Mar. 2022 But perhaps most of all, Scully will be remembered for his words when a sore-legged Kirk Gibson unexpectedly limped to the plate in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series for an underdog Dodgers team and worked the count full against the game’s preeminent reliever, Dennis Eckersley. Jon Weisman, Variety, 2 Aug. 2022 Somehow, this simple snip was going to solve all of their problems — relationship woes, professional sleights, a sore lower back. Loren Savini, Allure, 30 Dec. 2022 With undrafted rookie Isaiah Weston out for the season with a torn ACL and sixth-round pick Michael Woods II nursing a sore hamstring the past few weeks, Baldwin has been a pleasant surprise. cleveland, 21 Aug. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sore.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English sor, from Old English sār; akin to Old High German sēr sore and probably to Old Irish saeth distress

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sore was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near sore

Cite this Entry

“Sore.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sore. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

sore

1 of 3 adjective
ˈsō(ə)r How to pronounce sore (audio)
ˈsȯ(ə)r
sorer; sorest
1
a
: causing pain or distress
a sore subject
b
: full of pain : tender
sore muscles
c
: hurt or red and swollen so as to be or seem painful
sore runny eyes
2
: accompanied by difficulties, hardship, or exertion
in a sore situation
3
: angry sense 1a
my friend is sore at me
soreness noun

sore

2 of 3 noun
1
: a sore spot on the body
especially : one (as an ulcer) with the tissues broken and usually infected
2
: a cause of pain : affliction

sore

3 of 3 adverb
: sorely

Medical Definition

sore

1 of 2 adjective
sorer; sorest
: causing, characterized by, or affected with pain : painful
sore muscles
a sore wound
sorely adverb
soreness noun

sore

2 of 2 noun
: a localized sore spot on the body
especially : one (as an ulcer) with the tissues ruptured or abraded and usually with infection

More from Merriam-Webster on sore

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!