headache

noun

ˈhed-ˌāk How to pronounce headache (audio)
Definition of headachenext
1
as in job
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 nuisance
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 headache Florida saw some tropical headaches in the years that followed, including brushes with Dennis, Katrina and Wilma in 2005 and the flooding of Tropical Storm Fay in 2008. — Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026 Parents groused that loading and unloading kids in the R1S could be a headache, especially with a child’s seat in the second row. — Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, 13 Aug. 2026 Since the fire, residents have reported experiencing scratchy throats, headaches and nausea because of the ongoing smell. — Los Angeles Times, 13 Aug. 2026 Other possible symptoms include anxiety, dizziness, and headaches. — Dr. Onaola Adedeji, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for headache
Recent Examples of Synonyms for headache
  1. job
  2. nuisance
  3. killer
  4. frustration
  5. burden
  6. thorn
  7. effort
  8. worry
Noun
  • The Republican nominee also said the work agreements that allow many state employees to perform their jobs remotely need reform as well.
    — Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 14 Aug. 2026
  • In 2004, Norris took a job as an editorial manager of publications at the Joint Commission in Oakbrook Terrace.
    — Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of job
Noun
  • The South Coast Air Quality Management District has issued at least 20 violation notices to Lineage for public nuisance.
    — Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2026
  • On Thursday, a judge found Meta had created a public nuisance and ordered it to pay an additional $567 million and implement youth-safety measures.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of nuisance
Noun
  • Although gang ties to Tupac’s killing had been suspected from the beginning, the search for the killer was long hampered by the refusal of potential eyewitnesses to testify.
    — Andy Rose, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Set in the present, the movie tells the story of Kris (Hannah Einbinder), a young filmmaker who sets out to reboot an old slasher flick, Camp Miasma, haunted by a mysterious, helmeted killer named Little Death.
    — Alex Jhamb Burns, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of killer
Noun
  • Whenever Biya eventually leaves office, his successor will inherit a country also facing attacks by Boko Haram militants in the north and deep economic frustration among young people.
    — Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Rather than treating Debra’s frustrations as something distant from her own life, Heaton drew from the reality of raising her own kids while working on the series.
    — Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of frustration
Noun
  • Electricity bills have gone up in Quincy, but large industrial customers like data centers are shouldering the burden.
    — Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The burden varies depending on how open the model is and how mature the supporting software ecosystem has become.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of burden
Noun
  • Their kickers’ health and performance for years have been one of the thorns in the team’s side.
    — Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • With hill country roots and dangerous charm, Zak has been raised since birth to carry on the Farley racing dynasty, a thorn in the Whitlock family’s side.
    — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of thorn
Noun
  • Albeit in an uncompetitive effort, the Falcons’ 27-7 loss to the Broncos in the preseason opener Friday night offered a glimpse at a vast majority of the team’s roster.
    — Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 15 Aug. 2026
  • General manager Omar Khan has made a concerted effort to build through the trenches on offense and defense.
    — Mike DeFabo, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of effort
Noun
  • For some clubs that were running close to the wire under PSR, the shift will ease regulatory worries, as operating costs are now excluded.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Symptoms Symptoms can include sleeplessness, extreme worry about the baby or childbirth, restlessness and a racing heartbeat.
    — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of worry

Browse Nearby Words

head
headache
headaches
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Headache.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/headache. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on headache

Nglish: Translation of headache for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about headache

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of zeugma

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Words of the Week - Aug. 14

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All