sorer; sorest
1
: feeling or affected by pain : painful
sore muscles
Her back felt sore.
After I fell I was sore [=achy] all over.
a dog limping on a sore leg
The patient has a sore throat.
2
always used before a noun
: causing emotional pain or distress
That's a sore subject to bring up.
The discussion touched on a sore spot.
3
chiefly US, informal
: angry or upset
My neighbor is sore at me.
Are you still sore about what happened last night?
He's a sore loser. [=he becomes very upset or angry when he loses]
Cite this Entry
“Sore.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/sore. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
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