sore
B1Common in everyday speech; informal and formal contexts (though some idioms like 'sore point' are informal).
Definition
Meaning
A painful, often inflamed or tender spot on the body, or causing such pain.
Causing emotional distress, annoyance, or resentment; feeling aggrieved. Also used to intensify meaning (e.g., sore loser).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Adjective 'sore' describes physical pain (a sore throat) or emotional hurt (sore about the loss). Noun 'sore' refers to the lesion itself (a cold sore). Adverb use (archaic/chiefly US: 'sore afraid') is rare in modern English.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Both use the same core meanings. Adverbial use ('sore tempted') is slightly more common in AmE but still informal.
Connotations
Identical core connotations. The idiom 'stick out like a sore thumb' is equally common.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both varieties for core physical/emotional meanings.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
My feet are sore [from walking].She's still sore [about the comment].It's a sore point [between us].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “stick out like a sore thumb”
- “a sore point”
- “sight for sore eyes”
- “sore loser”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Informal: 'a sore point in the negotiations'.
Academic
Rare, except in medical/biological contexts describing lesions.
Everyday
Very common: 'I've got a sore throat.' 'He's a bit sore about losing.'
Technical
Medical: describing ulcers, pressure sores, lesions (e.g., 'decubitus ulcer').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- (Rare/archaic) 'The criticism sored him deeply.'
American English
- (Rare/archaic) 'The memory still sores her.'
adverb
British English
- (Archaic/Informal) 'He was sore afraid.' (Biblical/literary)
American English
- (Informal) 'I'm sore tempted to just quit.'
adjective
British English
- After the marathon, my legs were terribly sore.
- Talking about his failed exam is a sore subject.
American English
- My throat is sore from cheering at the game.
- He's still sore that he wasn't promoted.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I have a sore finger.
- She has a sore throat and a cough.
- My muscles are sore from the gym workout yesterday.
- Losing the match was a sore disappointment.
- The issue of funding remains a sore point within the department.
- He's a sore loser who always complains when he doesn't win.
- The journalist's questions touched a sore nerve, revealing the minister's deep insecurity.
- She was sorely tempted to reveal the secret but decided against it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
SORE sounds like 'SAW'—imagine accidentally sawing your finger; it would be very SORE.
Conceptual Metaphor
EMOTIONAL DISTRESS IS PHYSICAL PAIN (e.g., 'sore about the result', 'touched a sore nerve').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'больной' (sick/ill). 'Sore' is specifically localised pain, not general illness. A 'sore throat' is 'больное горло', but a 'sore loser' is 'плохой проигравший', not связанный с болью.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'sore' for internal sickness ('I feel sore' ≠ 'I feel ill').
- Using as a standard adverb ('He ran sore fast' is incorrect).
- Confusing 'sore' (adj/noun) with 'soar' (verb, to fly high).
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'sore' INCORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it's commonly used for emotional distress or resentment (e.g., 'sore about the criticism').
Very rarely and archaically. In modern English, it's almost exclusively an adjective or noun.
'Sore' often implies a dull, aching, or tender pain, typically in muscles, skin, or throat. 'Painful' is broader, covering any type of pain.
It's critical but common. It describes someone who reacts badly to losing. Use with caution as it is a direct criticism.