hurt feelings

plural noun

: unhappiness or sadness caused by someone's words or actions
His behavior at the party caused a lot of hurt feelings.

Examples of hurt feelings in a Sentence

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Haslam can throw more money at him to soothe any hurt feelings because that’s how the Browns typically problem-solve, but none of this is fair to Monken, who turns 60 in a few days and has waited his entire life for this opportunity. Jason Lloyd, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2026 There’s drama and hurt feelings, with some queens managing to stand out as performers and other queens managing to stand out as characters. Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 10 Jan. 2026 Despite the hurt feelings and anxiety in Missouri over the Chiefs, Schroer’s bills will likely face an uphill battle during the upcoming legislative session. Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 8 Jan. 2026 That's key, Beck said, to manage potential hurt feelings and egos among aging parents. Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 5 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hurt feelings

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Cite this Entry

“Hurt feelings.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hurt%20feelings. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.

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