ACHING Synonyms: 177 Similar and Opposite Words

aching 1 of 2

adjective

ˈā-kiŋ

Definition of aching

as in sore

causing or feeling bodily pain my poor, aching back

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in weeping

expressing or suggesting mourning another one of those aching country songs about a woman who done him wrong

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

aching

2 of 2

verb

present participle of ache

as in hurting

to feel or cause physical pain my feet ache from all that walking

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 aching

Adjective

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 And no matter what the ultimate tally, every individual is an aching, terrible loss. — Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 6 Feb. 2026

Verb

That aching ballad about wanting more, aside from being one of the big showstoppers, holds a special place for Greene. — ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026 There are cameos, twists and a fair amount of busywork setting up future films, but but the film’s focus remains squarely on Holland’s twin mission of defeating a mysterious new enemy and dealing with the aching loss of his girlfriend. — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 3 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for aching

Recent Examples of Synonyms for aching

Adjective

Meanwhile, Mason Black headed back to the minors and Beck Way returned from his rehab assignment (sore shoulder).

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 28 Aug. 2026
But his record of publicly interacting with Piker — including at a pool party just before the primary — remains a sore point among some Michigan Democrats.

— Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of sore

Adjective

And every day, across from them, outside the clinic, about to enter or just leaving, there were women hugging each other and weeping.

— David Mamet, National Review, 11 Aug. 2022
The show manages to stay on the brink — always laughing, never quite weeping — for its entire length.

— Helen Shaw, Vulture, 8 Dec. 2021

Definition of weeping

Verb

Recent polling shows that high pump prices are driving down presidential approval and hurting Republicans ahead of the midterm elections.

— Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026
Any increase to interest rates that could cool inflation also risks hurting the jobs market.

— Damian J. Troise, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of hurting

Adjective

Whitney Houston’s powerhouse version stands alone, but Dolly’s quieter, mournful ode to her collaboration with Porter Wagoner is the artful, formative sketch to a colossal mural.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026
These pauses also give the documentary an air of mournful respect, making its pace more deliberate than the standard talking heads-doc that might be mistaken as a stylistic counterpart.

— Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of mournful

Adjective

Fans across Kansas City posted heartbroken notes of appreciation for the country legend.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 26 Aug. 2026
Speaking during a recent career retrospective hosted by the SAG-AFTRA Foundation, the 71-year-old actor revealed that his Thelma & Louise co-star left him heartbroken.

— Hannah Malach, InStyle, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of heartbroken

Verb

Paper menus allow diners to tick off orders of lip-tingling laab, luscious khao soi, and juicy pomelo salad, feeling like a never-ending invitation to add just one more course.

— The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Aug. 2026
Those include numbness and tingling around the mouth and fingertips, trouble walking, talking or swallowing, sometimes weakness in the upper or lower extremity, balance issues or struggles with episodic memory.

— Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 18 Aug. 2026