as in aching
causing or feeling bodily pain
a badly hurting finger kept her from writing neatly
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in throbbing
to feel or cause physical pain
my head hurts a bad sprain that really hurts I hurt all over
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in damaging
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 injuring
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 grieving
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hurting
Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 7 Jan. 2026
These are the most casual of gestures, not comparable to relatives hurting a child.
—Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 6 Jan. 2026
After struggling for much of the year, McCarthy had strung together a couple of quality performances before hurting his hand.
—Anthony Bettin, CBS News, 2 Jan. 2026
Six weeks ago, my shoulder started hurting.
—Monique Yohanan, Washington Post, 2 Jan. 2026
But that shortcut ends up hurting patients.
—Neil Gaffin, STAT, 29 Dec. 2025
Others were concerned about uncertainty or hurting businesses and consumers.
—Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 29 Dec. 2025
After more than 40 days of uncertainty for our troops, federal workers, Texas families who rely on SNAP, & countless others, Senate Democrats have relented after accomplishing nothing but hurting millions of Americans.
—Deputy News Editor, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Nov. 2025
Through a lovely combination of the track layout, cool conditions and a rough track surface hurting the tires, only one of the tire compounds (the medium) actually worked.
—Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 11 Nov. 2025
Verb
Not forcing her to go means hurting the other girl, forcing her to go means teaching your daughter that her own comfort should be subjugated to make someone else happy.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for hurting
Adjective
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In this aching, unorthodox historical drama, Davies tells the story of the pacifist poet and veteran Siegfried Sassoon, whose experiences fighting in the First World War forever transformed him.—
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Braxton shares an aching need to be vulnerable only to realize by album’s end that such unions can result in horrible betrayal, her words of lament surrounded by swelling, lush orchestration.—
Verb
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One person was taken into custody after a fire ripped through a synagogue in Mississippi, heavily damaging the historic house of worship in what authorities say was an act of arson.—
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Freezing foods quickly helps preserve texture by preventing large ice crystals from damaging delicate cell walls.—
Verb
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Police say a rock was thrown at a school bus on the New Jersey Turnpike on Wednesday, shattering a window and seriously injuring a young child.—
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On January 1, history repeated itself when a fire erupted at the Le Constellation nightclub in Switzerland, claiming 40 lives — more than half of them under the age of 18 — and injuring over 100 others.—
Verb
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Before the tournament, Damon's endurance coach, Patrick Peterson, was grieving the loss of his 14-year-old son, Armani Peterson, who was killed in the Stockton birthday party shooting that drew national attention.—
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On Netflix April 24, 2026 | Action Thriller A grieving woman testing her limits in the Australian wilderness is suddenly ensnared in a deadly game with a ruthless predator.—
Adjective
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Proper skin preparation is key to making your wax sessions less painful.—
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The high fevers, hospitalizations, and dehydration that these illnesses cause can be painful and disruptive—and, with vaccines, avoidable.—
Verb
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Including playoffs, Mayfield turned the ball over more than anyone else from 2023 through 2024, marring an otherwise fantastic two seasons in Tampa Bay.—
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An optional front rack on both models adds instant utility without marring the retro-fantastic looks.—
Verb
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The suspect, charged with murder and other crimes, allegedly shot at four people in separate vehicles in Prince George’s County, killing one and wounding two.—
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Faceworld members opened fire, killing Jordan and wounding another woman.—
Verb
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Some people, friendship researchers told me, could be mourning a version of friendship that exists predominantly on social media and TV.—
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The Twiggs County community is mourning the loss of one of its beloved elementary school teachers.—
Cite this Entry
“Hurting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hurting. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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