as in pains
a sharp unpleasant sensation usually felt in some specific part of the body
a dull pounding ache in his head
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Recent Examples of aches
Jahan Marcu, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2025
The most common symptoms of flu include fever, headache, cough, sore throat and muscle aches.
—Caroline Neal, Louisville Courier Journal, 21 Oct. 2025
Like regular depression, SAD can cause negative feelings like hopelessness, worthlessness, irritability, and guilt; fatigue or reduced energy; a loss of interest in hobbies and activities; and even physical aches and pains (including headaches, cramps, and digestive problems).
—Maggie O'Neill, SELF, 20 Oct. 2025
Symptoms of listeriosis include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, loss of balance and convulsions.
—Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 20 Oct. 2025
There is even a massage with horses, during which a horse grazes nearby while a massage therapist works out your aches and pains.
—Katie Lockhart, Travel + Leisure, 17 Oct. 2025
Eye irritation or redness, fever, chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headaches, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting or rash.
—Katie Wiseman, IndyStar, 17 Oct. 2025
Research finds that more than 70% of women experience MSM during menopause, which include loss of muscle mass, bone density and joint aches and pains.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 17 Oct. 2025
The performances from McNairy, Nessa Dougherty as a young Alysia and Emilia Jones as a teen/adult Alysia capture her aches and longing.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 16 Oct. 2025
Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025
After sitting at my sewing machine for a couple of hours, my neck aches and my right foot is stiff from standing to attention over the pedal.
—Literary Hub, 22 Oct. 2025
Most people suffer high fevers, headaches, muscle aches, sometimes balance problems and confusion.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2025
Minor stomach aches, sore throats, ear aches and headaches — with no fever?
—Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 17 Oct. 2025
The pain of that premature departure still aches more than a decade on.
—Jack Bantock, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
For those experiencing less severe infections, symptoms may include fever, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, which often last between one and three days, according to the FDA.
—Peter Aitken, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Symptoms of listeriosis can include fever, muscle aches, and confusion, with higher risks for pregnant individuals, adults 65 or older, and those with weakened immune systems.
—Mariyam Muhammad, Cincinnati Enquirer, 2 Oct. 2025
Listeriosis can cause fever, muscle aches, and confusion, and can be particularly serious for certain high-risk groups.
—Rey Covarrubias Jr, AZCentral.com, 2 Oct. 2025
Noun
Elderly consumers, who might seek gentle relief for aches or the comfort of a familiar ritual, are left stranded.
—Jahan Marcu, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2025
The most common symptoms of flu include fever, headache, cough, sore throat and muscle aches.
—Caroline Neal, Louisville Courier Journal, 21 Oct. 2025
Like regular depression, SAD can cause negative feelings like hopelessness, worthlessness, irritability, and guilt; fatigue or reduced energy; a loss of interest in hobbies and activities; and even physical aches and pains (including headaches, cramps, and digestive problems).
—Maggie O'Neill, SELF, 20 Oct. 2025
Symptoms of listeriosis include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, loss of balance and convulsions.
—Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 20 Oct. 2025
There is even a massage with horses, during which a horse grazes nearby while a massage therapist works out your aches and pains.
—Katie Lockhart, Travel + Leisure, 17 Oct. 2025
Eye irritation or redness, fever, chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headaches, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting or rash.
—Katie Wiseman, IndyStar, 17 Oct. 2025
Research finds that more than 70% of women experience MSM during menopause, which include loss of muscle mass, bone density and joint aches and pains.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 17 Oct. 2025
The performances from McNairy, Nessa Dougherty as a young Alysia and Emilia Jones as a teen/adult Alysia capture her aches and longing.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 16 Oct. 2025
Verb
While the flu is traditionally associated with symptoms like fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, runny or stuffy nose, headache and fatigue, children and adults alike can experience moderate to severe complications.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025
After sitting at my sewing machine for a couple of hours, my neck aches and my right foot is stiff from standing to attention over the pedal.
—Literary Hub, 22 Oct. 2025
Most people suffer high fevers, headaches, muscle aches, sometimes balance problems and confusion.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2025
Minor stomach aches, sore throats, ear aches and headaches — with no fever?
—Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 17 Oct. 2025
The pain of that premature departure still aches more than a decade on.
—Jack Bantock, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
For those experiencing less severe infections, symptoms may include fever, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, which often last between one and three days, according to the FDA.
—Peter Aitken, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Symptoms of listeriosis can include fever, muscle aches, and confusion, with higher risks for pregnant individuals, adults 65 or older, and those with weakened immune systems.
—Mariyam Muhammad, Cincinnati Enquirer, 2 Oct. 2025
Listeriosis can cause fever, muscle aches, and confusion, and can be particularly serious for certain high-risk groups.
—Rey Covarrubias Jr, AZCentral.com, 2 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aches
Noun
-
The movie takes pains to illustrate how the possible end of the world will begin like any other day.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Colleagues who failed to take similar pains earned his everlasting disdain.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
However, both Sheth and Mehta said supplemental screening for women with breast implants never hurts.—
Helen Carefoot,
Flow Space,
28 Oct. 2025
-
There’s a lot of optimism and spontaneity surrounding this zodiac sign, so even conversations that leave you laughing until your stomach hurts wouldn’t be out of the ordinary.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
These pangs are only compounded by the cliffhanger that concluded Season 2, in which President William Rayburn (Michael McKean) suffered a fatal heart attack and elevated his vice president, Grace Penn (Allison Janney), to the top of the call sheet.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Sharp cracks of gunfire pierced the morning air, loud, jarring pangs that echoed off the concrete.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Portugal’s coastline throbs with beach goers and sports enthusiasts.—
Tom Mullen,
Forbes.com,
25 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Aches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aches. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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