Headache — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˈhed-ˌāk/ head·ache

Meaning & Definition of Headache

Headache (noun)

  1. pain in the head
  2. a vexatious or baffling situation or problem

Headache (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a dull, unpleasant, or difficult piece of work

    "filling out all the required forms was a real headache"

    similar: bear, beast, chore, job, killer, labor
    related: drudgery, grind, heavy lifting, lucubration, effort, strain, sweat, burden, load, weight, bother, nuisance, trouble
    near: breeze, child's play, cinch, duck soup, kid stuff, setup, snap

  2. 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"

    similar: aggravation, aggro (British), annoyance, bother, botheration, bugbear, exasperation, frustration, hair shirt, hassle, inconvenience, irk, irritant, nuisance, peeve, pest, rub, ruffle, thorn, trial, vexation
    related: discomfort, fleabite, pinprick, affront, insult, offense, upset, worry, affliction, albatross, burden, cross, curse, menace, millstone, plague, sore, anxiety, plight, predicament, tribulation, trouble, hang-up, pet peeve, problem, annoyer, disturber, harasser, mischief, offender, pandora's box
    near: delight, joy, pleasure

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Headache

The most common words with a similar meaning to Headache:

British: aggro
bear, beast, chore, job, killer, labor, aggravation, annoyance, bother, botheration, bugbear, exasperation, frustration, hair shirt, hassle, inconvenience, irk, irritant, nuisance, peeve, pest, rub, ruffle, thorn, trial, vexation

Related Words for Headache

drudgery, grind, heavy lifting, lucubration, effort, strain, sweat, burden, load, weight, trouble, discomfort, fleabite, pinprick, affront, insult, offense, upset, worry, affliction, albatross, cross, curse, menace, millstone, plague, sore, anxiety, plight, predicament

Near Antonyms of Headache

breeze, child's play, cinch, duck soup, kid stuff, setup, snap, delight, joy, pleasure

Word Forms of Headache

Derived words: headachy (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Headache

First known use: before 12th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Headache

Words & Phrases Containing Headache

cluster headache, ice-cream headache, sick headache, tension headache, splitting headache, preheadache

Frequently Asked Questions about Headache

What does "Headache" mean?

"Headache" means pain in the head. As a noun, it is defined as: pain in the head. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Headache"?

Other words for "Headache" include bear, beast, chore, job, killer, labor, aggravation and aggro. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Headache" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Headache"?

There are 67 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Headache". Common alternatives include bear, beast, chore, job, killer, labor, aggravation, aggro, annoyance and bother.

How do you use "Headache" in a sentence?

Examples of "Headache" in a sentence: "filling out all the required forms was a real headache"; "one of the headaches of being a band teacher is never knowing if the school's music program will be cut".

Is "Headache" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Headache" is a noun.

Is "Headache" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A2-level word, "Headache" is typical of Cambridge A2 Key (KET), PTE Academic 30–42, TOEIC Listening & Reading 225+.

How do you pronounce "Headache"?

"Headache" is pronounced /ˈhed-ˌāk/ and divided into syllables as head·ache.

What is the origin of the word "Headache"?

First known use: before 12th century.