Sore vs Wounded

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Sore

Top 2,000 (common)

Wounded

Top 3,000 (common)

Most common: Sore

	Sore	Wounded
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 //sɔː// 🇺🇸 //sɔr//	🇬🇧 //ˈwuːndɪd// 🇺🇸 //ˈwuːndɪd//
Meaning	A painful feeling in a part of your body.	Hurt or injured
Example	After the workout, my muscles felt really sore.	The soldier was sadly wounded during the battle.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 2,000 (common)	Top 3,000 (common)
Collocations	sore throat, sore muscles, sore spot, sore feet	wounded soldier, wounded animal, wounded heart, wounded pride, wounded feelings
Antonyms	comfortable, pain-free, healed	unharmed, healed, safe
Common mistakes	Confused with 'saw' vs 'sore', Using 'sore' to describe something that's simply upset or irritated with no physical pain, Mixing up 'sore' with 'sorry'	Using 'wounded' incorrectly for someone who is upset instead of just hurt., Confusing 'wounded' with 'wound', which is the past tense of wound., Exclusively using 'wounded' in military contexts, ignoring its broader meanings.
Usage notes	Used in medical or casual contexts. Avoid using it in formal writing. 'Sore' can describe physical pain or emotional hurt.	Typically used to describe physical injuries but can also refer to emotional pain. It is appropriate in both written and spoken contexts.

See it in real clips

The Pitt › S1 E1

You're gonna be sore for a while.

Sore

were 35 dead, times two wounded.

travelling around the country cheering up all them wounded veterans

were 35 dead, times two wounded.

travelling around the country cheering up all them wounded veterans

Wounded

Frequently asked questions: Sore vs Wounded

What's the difference between Sore and Wounded?

Sore: A painful feeling in a part of your body. Wounded: Hurt or injured

Which is more common: Sore and Wounded?

Sore is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Sore: After the workout, my muscles felt really sore. Wounded: The soldier was sadly wounded during the battle.

Can I use Sore and Wounded interchangeably?

Not always. Sore and Wounded are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.