as in headaches
something that is a source of irritation
the constant need to cut costs was a hair shirt, but one that the theater company had to live with
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hair shirts
Noun
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Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome causes fatigue, fever, muscle aches, abdominal problems, headaches, chills and dizziness in the early stages, and late symptoms include chest tightness, coughing, shortness of breath and lungs filling with fluid.—
Mary Whitfill Roeloffs,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026 -
The incident left him with frequent headaches, anxiety and memory loss, and exacerbated his gastritis.—
Andrea Castillo,
Los Angeles Times,
26 May 2026
Noun
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Thanks to four layers of latex and a 3750D elastic outer fabric, the inner hose is protected from pesky things like thorns and sharp corners.—
Quincy Bulin,
Better Homes & Gardens,
19 May 2026
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Removing the thorns may help our favorite novels appeal to a wider audience, but such refinements make art feel as lifeless as Catherine Linton’s corpse at the end of Emerald Fennell’s film.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 May 2026
Noun
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Some diners, though, have empathy with restaurateurs despite their frustrations.—
Connie Ogle
Updated May 27,
Miami Herald,
27 May 2026
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Coupled with primary victories for incumbents from the state party’s left wing who fended off more moderate challengers, Democrats are looking to capitalize on voter frustrations and national economic uncertainty to fuel their success.—
Riley Bunch,
AJC.com,
27 May 2026
Noun
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For buyers whose lives are otherwise optimized to the point of abstraction, taking on those tangible nuisances can feel almost noble.—
Spencer Elliott,
Forbes.com,
19 May 2026
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Japanese beetles and slugs are pesky nuisances that will go after the basil in your garden.—
Heather Bien,
Southern Living,
16 May 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Hair shirts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hair%20shirts. Accessed 29 May. 2026.
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