Ache vs. Hurt: What's the Difference?
Edited by Aimie Carlson || By Janet White || Updated on September 26, 2023
Ache refers to a continuous, dull pain, while hurt is a broader term indicating physical, emotional, or mental pain or injury.
Key Differences
Ache and hurt are two terms used to describe discomfort or pain but have different nuances and applications. Ache typically refers to a continuous, usually dull pain, often perceived as somewhat milder and prolonged. It’s usually specific and localized, such as a headache or a stomachache, depicting lingering discomfort in particular parts of the body, often due to illness or injury.
Hurt, conversely, is more comprehensive and versatile. It can denote both physical and emotional pain. Hurt can describe temporary or prolonged pain and is not limited to a specific type of discomfort. For instance, one can feel hurt due to a blunt impact or because of harsh words, showcasing its applicability to a variety of painful experiences, both physical and emotional.
The term ache often signifies a constant, lingering discomfort that might not be intensely sharp but is persistent. It is commonly used to describe symptoms related to health conditions or internal discomfort, like muscle aches or heartache, symbolizing enduring pain or sorrow usually tied to specific areas or emotions.
On the other hand, hurt is a general term indicating damage or harm and can be used as a verb, adjective, or noun. It encompasses all kinds of pain, whether it’s a hurt arm due to a fall or hurt feelings due to betrayal, illustrating its versatile nature in depicting various forms of pain or distress.
While ache is more specialized, conveying a sense of prolonged, dull pain, hurt serves as a universal term to describe any form of pain, discomfort, or emotional distress, making it more adaptable to different contexts and situations. Both words, though closely related, express distinct aspects of pain and discomfort, enhancing the expressiveness of the language in describing varied painful experiences.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A continuous, often dull pain.
Physical, emotional, or mental pain or injury.
Usage
Specific, usually localized discomfort.
Broad and versatile, denoting various forms of pain.
Application
Often related to internal or emotional discomfort.
Applicable to physical and emotional situations.
Duration
Typically prolonged.
Can be temporary or prolonged.
Form
Primarily used as a noun.
Can be used as a noun, verb, or adjective.
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Ache and Hurt Definitions
Ache
A lingering desire or craving.
She had a profound ache to see the world.
Hurt
Emotional pain or distress.
His words really hurt her feelings.
Ache
A sustained sense of loss or longing.
The ache for his departed friend never seemed to fade.
Hurt
To cause suffering or unhappiness.
It hurts to see them fight like this.
Ache
Continuous or prolonged dull pain.
The ache in his knee persisted for days.
Hurt
Physical discomfort or pain caused by injury.
The hurt from the burn was unbearable.
Ache
To suffer a dull, sustained pain.
Hurt
To cause physical damage or pain to (an individual or a body part); injure
The fall hurt his back.
Ache
To feel sympathy or compassion
Ached for his heartbroken friend.
Hurt
To experience injury or pain to or in (an individual or a body part)
I hurt my knee skiing.
Ache
To yearn or long
Refugees who ached for their homeland.
Hurt
To cause mental or emotional suffering to; distress
The remark hurt his feelings.
Ache
A dull, steady pain.
Hurt
To cause physical damage to (something); harm
The frost hurt the orange crop.
Ache
A painful sorrow.
Hurt
To be detrimental to; hinder or impair
The scandal hurt the candidate's chances for victory.
Ache
A longing or desire.
Hurt
To have or produce a feeling of physical pain or discomfort
My leg hurts.
Ache
To suffer pain; to be the source of, or be in, pain, especially continued dull pain; to be distressed.
My feet were aching for days after the marathon.
Every muscle in his body ached.
Hurt
To cause distress or damage
Parental neglect hurts.
Ache
To cause someone or something to suffer pain.
Hurt
To have an adverse effect
“It never hurt to have a friend at court” (Tom Clancy).
Ache
Continued dull pain, as distinguished from sudden twinges, or spasmodic pain.
You may suffer a minor ache in your side.
The aches and pains died down after taking an analgesic.
Hurt
(Informal) To experience distress, especially of a financial kind; be in need
“Even in a business that's hurting there's always a guy who can make a buck” (New York).
Ache
(obsolete) parsley
Hurt
Something that hurts; a pain, injury, or wound.
Ache
Rare spelling of aitch
Hurt
Mental suffering; anguish
Getting over the hurt of reading the letter.
Ache
Continued pain, as distinguished from sudden twinges, or spasmodic pain. "Such an ache in my bones."
Hurt
A wrong; harm
What hurt have you done to them?.
Ache
To suffer pain; to have, or be in, pain, or in continued pain; to be distressed.
The sins that in your conscience ache.
Hurt
To cause (a person or animal) physical pain and/or injury.
If anybody hurts my little brother, I will get upset.
This injection might hurt a little.
Ache
A dull persistent (usually moderately intense) pain
Hurt
To cause (somebody) emotional pain.
He was deeply hurt he hadn’t been invited.
The insult hurt.
Ache
Feel physical pain;
Were you hurting after the accident?
Hurt
To be painful.
Does your leg still hurt? / It is starting to feel better.
Ache
Have a desire for something or someone who is not present;
She ached for a cigarette
I am pining for my lover
Hurt
To damage, harm, impair, undermine, impede.
This latest gaffe hurts the legislator’s reelection prospects still further.
Copying and pasting identical portions of source code hurts maintainability, because the programmer has to keep all those copies synchronized.
Every little hurts.
Ache
Be the source of pain
Hurt
Wounded, physically injured.
Ache
A continuous, distracting emotional pain.
The ache in his heart was palpable after the breakup.
Hurt
Pained.
Ache
A localized physical discomfort.
An annoying toothache kept him awake at night.
Hurt
An emotional or psychological humiliation or bad experience.
How to overcome old hurts of the past
Hurt
(archaic) A bodily injury causing pain; a wound or bruise.
Hurt
(archaic) Injury; damage; detriment; harm
Hurt
(engineering) A band on a trip hammer's helve, bearing the trunnions.
Hurt
A husk.
Hurt
(heraldry) A roundel azure (blue circular spot).
Hurt
A band on a trip-hammer helve, bearing the trunnions.
Hurt
To cause physical pain to; to do bodily harm to; to wound or bruise painfully.
The hurt lion groans within his den.
Hurt
To impar the value, usefulness, beauty, or pleasure of; to damage; to injure; to harm.
Virtue may be assailed, but never hurt.
Hurt
To wound the feelings of; to cause mental pain to; to offend in honor or self-respect; to annoy; to grieve.
Hurt
Any physical damage to the body caused by violence or accident or fracture etc.
Hurt
Psychological suffering;
The death of his wife caused him great distress
Hurt
Feelings of mental or physical pain
Hurt
A damage or loss
Hurt
The act of damaging something or someone
Hurt
Be the source of pain
Hurt
Give trouble or pain to;
This exercise will hurt your back
Hurt
Cause emotional anguish or make miserable;
It pains me to see my children not being taught well in school
Hurt
Cause damage or affect negatively;
Our business was hurt by the new competition
Hurt
Hurt the feelings of;
She hurt me when she did not include me among her guests
This remark really bruised me ego
Hurt
Feel physical pain;
Were you hurting after the accident?
Hurt
Feel pain or be in pain
Hurt
Suffering from physical injury especially that suffered in battle;
Nursing his wounded arm
Ambulances...for the hurt men and women
Hurt
Used of inanimate objects or their value
Hurt
To cause pain or injury.
The fall hurt his leg severely.
Hurt
Damage or harm affecting one's condition.
The scandal did not hurt his reputation.
FAQs
Is ache always a physical pain?
No, it can also refer to a sustained emotional pain or desire.
Can ache be used as a verb?
Yes, e.g., “My head aches.” It means experiencing continuous pain.
Can ache imply a sense of longing?
Yes, ache can imply a deep or sustained sense of longing or desire.
Is hurt broader in meaning than ache?
Yes, hurt can describe various forms and types of pain and can be used in multiple grammatical forms.
Can hurt be used as an adjective?
Yes, e.g., “a hurt animal.” It describes being injured or harmed.
Is ache primarily used as a noun?
Yes, though it can also be used as a verb, it is primarily used as a noun.
Can you describe an emotional state as aching?
Yes, describing an emotional state as aching implies a sustained sense of emotional pain or longing.
Does hurt always mean physical pain?
No, hurt can refer to both physical and emotional pain.
Can you have an ache for something unattained?
Yes, having an ache for something refers to a deep, sustained desire or longing for it.
Can something hurt emotionally and physically?
Yes, hurt can be experienced both emotionally and physically, depending on the context.
Can being hurt lead to acting defensively?
Often, being hurt can lead to defensive behaviors as a means of self-protection.
Does ache always describe a severe pain?
Not necessarily. It often describes a dull, continuous pain which may or may not be severe.
Can hurt imply damage to reputation?
Yes, hurt can imply damage or harm to one’s reputation or condition.
Does emotional hurt refer to feelings of sadness?
Generally, yes. Emotional hurt usually refers to feelings of sadness, distress, or sorrow.
Are the terms ache and hurt interchangeable?
Not always, as ache often refers to a specific, continuous pain, while hurt has a broader application, covering physical and emotional pain and injury.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Aimie CarlsonAimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.
