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
Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 6 Feb. 2026
Some signs of withdrawal from kratom might include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle/joint aches, restlessness, runny nose, excessive yawning, and hot or cold flashes.
—Gary Kirkilas Ii, Boston Herald, 1 Feb. 2026
Shower steamers are also used to ease minor aches and pains and soothe sore muscles.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
When programmed appropriately, exercise can ease aches, improve movement and protect joints long-term.
—Fred Sassani, Austin American Statesman, 29 Jan. 2026
The result, for me, was worth the temporary aches and sleeping propped up—and yes, the money.
—Patricia Tortolani, Allure, 29 Jan. 2026
Backroads Building and maintaining muscle is an important part of aging well, and there are plenty of travelers who are stronger than ever (even if there are a few more aches and pains) in their 50s and 60s.
—Christine Sarkis, USA Today, 27 Jan. 2026
The detox massage worked deep into the hiking aches.
—Jemima Sissons, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Jan. 2026
Traditional acupuncture involves inserting thin metallic needles into your body, targeting specific aches and pains.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 21 Jan. 2026
Christine Imarenezor, VIBE.com, 15 Jan. 2026
This loss is unexpected and surreal and my heart aches… for his family, for his wife, for his children, for his friends, and for all of us who were blessed to know him.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 15 Jan. 2026
Leptospirosis typically causes flu-like symptoms, including fever, chills, headache, body aches, vomiting or nausea, according to the CDC.
—Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 15 Jan. 2026
Seasonal influenza, also known as the flu, is an illness that causes fever, headache, fatigue, cough, sore throat, nasal congestion and body aches, according to the CDC.
—Isa Almeida, Oklahoman, 13 Jan. 2026
Caffeine is dehydrating and could make body aches worse.
—Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 12 Jan. 2026
Most people with the virus experience fever, headache and muscle aches.
—Patrick Jackson, The Conversation, 7 Jan. 2026
Numbers released this week from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that doctor visits for fever, body aches, sore throat, extreme fatigue, and other flu-like symptoms have reached the highest level since recording began nearly three decades ago.
—Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 7 Jan. 2026
Super flu virus symptoms The subclade K variant of flu A causes similar symptoms to other strains, including high fever, severe body aches, extreme fatigue, persistent cough, sore throat and intense headaches.
—Lori Comstock, Freep.com, 6 Jan. 2026
Noun
Literally — rise up by elevating yourself in bed, courtesy of Coop Sleep Goods’ Adjustable Wedge Pillow, which can unblock breathing, alleviate everything from acid reflux to back aches, and, when propped under your legs, do wonders in the swelling department.
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 6 Feb. 2026
Some signs of withdrawal from kratom might include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle/joint aches, restlessness, runny nose, excessive yawning, and hot or cold flashes.
—Gary Kirkilas Ii, Boston Herald, 1 Feb. 2026
Shower steamers are also used to ease minor aches and pains and soothe sore muscles.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
When programmed appropriately, exercise can ease aches, improve movement and protect joints long-term.
—Fred Sassani, Austin American Statesman, 29 Jan. 2026
The result, for me, was worth the temporary aches and sleeping propped up—and yes, the money.
—Patricia Tortolani, Allure, 29 Jan. 2026
Backroads Building and maintaining muscle is an important part of aging well, and there are plenty of travelers who are stronger than ever (even if there are a few more aches and pains) in their 50s and 60s.
—Christine Sarkis, USA Today, 27 Jan. 2026
The detox massage worked deep into the hiking aches.
—Jemima Sissons, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Jan. 2026
Traditional acupuncture involves inserting thin metallic needles into your body, targeting specific aches and pains.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 21 Jan. 2026
Verb
This loss is unexpected and surreal, and my heart aches… for his family, for his wife, for his children, for his friends, and for all of us who were blessed to know him.
—Christine Imarenezor, VIBE.com, 15 Jan. 2026
This loss is unexpected and surreal and my heart aches… for his family, for his wife, for his children, for his friends, and for all of us who were blessed to know him.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 15 Jan. 2026
Leptospirosis typically causes flu-like symptoms, including fever, chills, headache, body aches, vomiting or nausea, according to the CDC.
—Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 15 Jan. 2026
Seasonal influenza, also known as the flu, is an illness that causes fever, headache, fatigue, cough, sore throat, nasal congestion and body aches, according to the CDC.
—Isa Almeida, Oklahoman, 13 Jan. 2026
Caffeine is dehydrating and could make body aches worse.
—Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 12 Jan. 2026
Most people with the virus experience fever, headache and muscle aches.
—Patrick Jackson, The Conversation, 7 Jan. 2026
Numbers released this week from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that doctor visits for fever, body aches, sore throat, extreme fatigue, and other flu-like symptoms have reached the highest level since recording began nearly three decades ago.
—Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 7 Jan. 2026
Super flu virus symptoms The subclade K variant of flu A causes similar symptoms to other strains, including high fever, severe body aches, extreme fatigue, persistent cough, sore throat and intense headaches.
—Lori Comstock, Freep.com, 6 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aches
Noun
-
White southerners took great pains to keep track of men and women like Henry Fordham.—
Eugene Robinson,
The Atlantic,
3 Feb. 2026
-
My adolescence was an ordinary one, its joys and pains small.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Sure, flashing a championship ring on a recruiting trip never hurts.—
Thomas Jones,
Austin American Statesman,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Trade alternatives Multiple free agent options at first base surely hurts the trade market for Orioles first baseman Ryan Mountcastle and Rays first baseman Yandy Díaz (Mountcastle, in particular, seems to have very little role to play in Baltimore at this point).—
Chad Jennings,
New York Times,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Everyone’s blood sugar levels sporadically spike, and that’s normal, but keeping it steady helps prevent energy crashes, hunger pangs, and mood swings, Dardarian says.—
Julia Ries Wexler,
Outside,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Packing your own treats not only saves money between meals, but also keeps mood-tanking hunger pangs at bay.—
Alesandra Dubin,
Travel + Leisure,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Pain that is not a word throbs in his shoulders, awakens him each morning.—
Rosa Lyster,
Harpers Magazine,
6 Jan. 2026
-
While the game is played across the country, its pulse throbs in Rio.—
Michal Ruprecht,
NPR,
28 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Researchers suggested that future studies should include people who actually experience tingles to better understand how ASMR might help with mental health and relaxation.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Aches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aches. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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