1
as in jobs
a dull, unpleasant, or difficult piece of work
filling out all the required forms was a real headache
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in frustrations
something that is a source of irritation
one of the headaches of being a band teacher is never knowing if the school's music program will be cut
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of headaches
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,
2 July 2026
Americans who have health insurance say prior authorization is the healthcare system’s biggest burden, causing administrative headaches while care is kept out of reach.
—
Miranda Yaver,
The Conversation,
2 July 2026
Per the La Ceiba recall announcement, Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterium that causes symptoms like fever, nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, severe headaches and stiffness.
—
Chiara Kim,
PEOPLE,
2 July 2026
Most people infected with the virus do not develop symptoms, but about one in five experience fever, headaches, body aches, vomiting, diarrhea or a rash.
—
Brittany Miller,
FOXNews.com,
1 July 2026
But the departures are often bigger PR headaches than operational ones.
—
Reed Albergotti,
semafor.com,
23 June 2026
But the move enabled Florida to lock in what will be one of the best top-six forward groups in the league, slotting Brady Tkachuck into the left wing spot on the second line alongside center Sam Bennett and right wing Matthew Tkachuk that will cause opponents major headaches.
—
Eduardo A. Encina,
The Orlando Sentinel,
22 June 2026
The church was concerned a site in uptown would interfere with their operations and create traffic headaches.
—
Mary Ramsey
updated June 22,
Charlotte Observer,
22 June 2026
So while some foods may prevent or manage migraine headaches, some may actually trigger them.
—
Joy Emeh,
Health,
22 June 2026
Mary Whitfill Roeloffs,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2026
Americans who have health insurance say prior authorization is the healthcare system’s biggest burden, causing administrative headaches while care is kept out of reach.
—
Miranda Yaver,
The Conversation,
2 July 2026
Per the La Ceiba recall announcement, Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterium that causes symptoms like fever, nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, severe headaches and stiffness.
—
Chiara Kim,
PEOPLE,
2 July 2026
Most people infected with the virus do not develop symptoms, but about one in five experience fever, headaches, body aches, vomiting, diarrhea or a rash.
—
Brittany Miller,
FOXNews.com,
1 July 2026
But the departures are often bigger PR headaches than operational ones.
—
Reed Albergotti,
semafor.com,
23 June 2026
But the move enabled Florida to lock in what will be one of the best top-six forward groups in the league, slotting Brady Tkachuck into the left wing spot on the second line alongside center Sam Bennett and right wing Matthew Tkachuk that will cause opponents major headaches.
—
Eduardo A. Encina,
The Orlando Sentinel,
22 June 2026
The church was concerned a site in uptown would interfere with their operations and create traffic headaches.
—
Mary Ramsey
updated June 22,
Charlotte Observer,
22 June 2026
So while some foods may prevent or manage migraine headaches, some may actually trigger them.
—
Joy Emeh,
Health,
22 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for headaches
Noun
-
Proponents of the authorization note that the $155 million investment arrives four years after a severe drought in the Sacramento Valley in 2022 had cost local communities hundreds of millions of dollars and roughly 1,500 jobs.
-
Employers added 57,000 jobs last month, about half of what economists had expected.
Noun
-
Those frustrations could be on the verge of boiling over.
-
South Africa has a history of xenophobic violence as migrants from poor nations like Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Malawi generally end up settling in impoverished communities in South Africa where unemployment and frustrations are high.
Noun
-
Owner Dependency Can Destroy Value One of the most common deal killers Rutherford sees is owner dependency.
-
An informant for the FBI quickly identified members of the Ku Klux Klan as her killers.
Noun
-
Besides being nuisances, many types carry diseases including West Nile virus, encephalitis, and canine heartworm.
-
If the nuisances continue at Albany Care, the city is seeking a court order to shut the facility down, separate from the state action.
Noun
-
The girl was pronounced dead at UC Irvine Medical Center, despite the efforts of first responders who arrived soon after the blast, the news release said.
-
The university will still have the ability to use the park for recreational activities and, like the city, will also be able to use it as a debris site for post-hurricane recovery efforts.
Noun
-
Pyrotechnics set off at home are even more likely to trigger cardiovascular problems, the American Lung Assn.
-
Some people have to remove bird feeders during the summer because of problems with bears, raccoons, and other wild animals.
Noun
-
This shift reflects a growing belief that self-investment, confidence, and joy are integral to a new, healthier definition of strength, challenging the expectation to always carry the world's burdens.
-
American families also shoulder financial burdens that many Dutch families never face.
Noun
-
An individual bush can grow up to 15 feet high and 40 feet long, with thick stems, also known as canes, marked by sharp, hooked thorns.
-
The match was set, and now Rhodes will defend the title against the two thorns in his side since before Clash in Italy.
Cite this Entry
“Headaches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/headaches. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
