1
as in to ache
to feel or cause physical pain
my head hurts a bad sprain that really hurts I hurt all over
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in to damage
to reduce the soundness, effectiveness, or perfection of
don't worry that you'll hurt the new lawn by walking across it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to injure
to cause bodily damage to
the common belief that reading in poor light hurts your eyes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to grieve
to feel deep sadness or mental pain
I know you must be hurting from the cruel words they said
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in distress
a state of great suffering of body or mind
in her hurt she said a lot of things to her boyfriend that she didn't really mean
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in harm
something that causes loss or pain
a totally baseless accusation that caused lasting hurt to his reputation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in injured
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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 hurt
Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2025
Toby Meyjes, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
The fight over the casino was largely about whether an influx of gambling tourists would help, or hurt, a theater district still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 17 Sep. 2025
Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2025
Officials said most of the injured were students, and three parishioners in their 80s were among those hurt.
—Bailey Richards, People.com, 31 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hurt
Verb
Rose would cry, somehow even more hurt than me.
—Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2025
Noun
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says lead in the blood during pregnancy can increase the risk of a miscarriage, cause a baby to be born too early or too small, hurt a baby's brain, kidneys, and nervous system or cause a child to have behavioral problems.
—Toby Meyjes, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
The fight over the casino was largely about whether an influx of gambling tourists would help, or hurt, a theater district still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
Lilith’s hurt is not enough to stop Laura, who kicks into full gear.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2025
Officials said most of the injured were students, and three parishioners in their 80s were among those hurt.
—Bailey Richards, People.com, 31 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hurt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hurt
Verb
-
My heart aches for that poor boy.—
Rachael O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Weeks to months after exposure, an infected person may experience flu-like symptoms that can include fever, headache and overall body aches.—
Katia Hetter,
CNN Money,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
MDOTwill close northbound Airport Road over Interstate 94 in Jackson to replace bridge beams damaged by a high-load strike on April 11.—
Jalen Williams,
Freep.com,
21 Sep. 2025
-
If it's damaged and can't be hauled to the surface, the hole can be filled with rubble and concrete.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
21 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Most recently, he was badly injured after a high–speed car crash in New Hampshire in August.—
Washington Examiner Staff,
The Washington Examiner,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Two Fort Worth firefighters were injured while battling a two-alarm fire at the house.—
Shambhavi Rimal,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Cam, who grieves his father throughout the film, allowed Withers to show that even the toughest men in the world have their contemplative moments.—
Andre Gee,
Rolling Stone,
18 Sep. 2025
-
The platform formerly known as X and its owner Elon Musk have called for the firing of anyone deemed insufficiently grieving of Kirk.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
18 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Those with suicide ideation might attempt suicide, but these attempts often represent a desire to escape distress as opposed to end-of-life issues.—
Eric Wood,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
-
In Pennsylvania, lawmakers have still not broken out of the impasse, spelling financial distress for schools and counties that rely particularly heavily on state funding.—
Isabella Volmert,
Fortune,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
But the treatment has been criticized since the early days as, variously, a Communist plot, forced mass medication and an industrial byproduct that causes more harm than good.—
Anna Clark,
ProPublica,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Congress and state legislatures should investigate and hold the FDA accountable for ignoring overwhelming evidence of harm.—
Lila Rose,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
In Thursday’s Day One practice, Arvidsson took the injured Pastrnak’s place on the presumptive top line with Morgan Geekie and Elias Lindholm.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
19 Sep. 2025
-
Backup quarterback Jake Browning filled in for the injured Burrow, leading the Bengals to a 31-27 victory.—
Matthew Couden,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Chest aches, fevers, debilitating headaches and chills pained 15-year-old Sufiya Syed for more than a year before doctors finally diagnosed her two months ago.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
21 Sep. 2025
-
When the body feels stress, your heart rate and blood pressure jump, stress chemicals rise, and the brain may turn pain down for a moment.—
Dayanne S. Antonio,
The Conversation,
18 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hurt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hurt. Accessed 23 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share