adj. 1 painful, sensitive, tender, raw, angry, burning, stinging, smarting, hurting; irritated, inflamed, chafed My finger is still sore round the cut 2 sensitive, delicate, tender, embarrassing, awkward, ticklish, touchy, thorny, prickly Failing to complete medical school is a sore point with her 3 dire, serious, acute, extreme, critical, urgent, pressing, desperate He is in sore need of some good advice 4 angry, angered, annoyed, irritated, vexed, irked, upset, Colloq peeved Don't get sore at me because you got low marks in your exams 5 painful, troublesome, grievous, aggrieved, distressing, distressful, harrowing, severe, agonizing, bitter, fierce, burdensome, onerous, heavy, oppressive Melanie's marital troubles proved a sore trial for her friends 6 sore straits. difficulty, trouble, distress, danger, dangerous or precarious condition The business is in sore straits, I fear
n. 7 injury, damage, swelling, rawness, infection, inflammation, bruise, abrasion, cut, laceration, scrape, burn, canker, ulcer If that sore on your arm doesn't heal, you'd better see a doctor