sore subject
noun
Roget 830:
painfulness
etc.
adj.;
trouble,
care
etc.
(pain)
828;
trial;
affliction,
infliction;
blow,
stroke,
burden,
load,
curse;
bitter pill,
bitter draught;
waters of bitterness.
annoyance,
grievance,
nuisance,
vexation,
mortification,
sickener†;
bore,
bother,
pother,
hot water,
sea of troubles"
[Hamlet],
hornet's nest,
plague,
pest.
cancer,
ulcer,
sting,
thorn;
canker
etc.
(bane)
663;
scorpion
etc.
(evil doer)
913;
dagger
etc.
(arms)
727;
scourge
etc.
(instrument of punishment)
975;
carking care,
canker worm of care.
mishap,
misfortune
etc.
(adversity)
735;
desagrement [Fr.],
esclandre [Fr.],
rub.
source of irritation,
source of annoyance;
wound,
open sore;
sore subject,
skeleton in the closet;
thorn in the flesh,
thorn in one's side;
where the shoe pinches,
gall and wormwood.
sorry sight,
heavy news,
provocation;
affront
etc.
929;
head and front of one's offending"
[Othello].
infestation,
molestation;
malignity
etc.
(malevolence)
907.
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Roget 900:
resentment,
displeasure,
animosity,
anger,
wrath,
indignation;
exasperation,
bitter resentment,
wrathful indignation.
pique,
umbrage,
huff,
miff,
soreness,
dudgeon,
acerbity,
virulence,
bitterness,
acrimony,
asperity,
spleen,
gall;
heart-burning,
heart-swelling;
rankling.
ill humor,
bad humor,
ill temper,
bad temper;
irascibility
etc.
901;
ill blood
etc.
(hate)
898;
revenge
etc.
919.
excitement,
irritation;
warmth,
bile,
choler,
ire,
fume,
pucker,
dander,
ferment,
ebullition;
towering passion,
acharnement [Fr.],
angry mood,
taking,
pet,
tiff,
passion,
fit,
tantrums.
burst,
explosion,
paroxysm,
storm,
rage,
fury,
desperation;
violence
etc.
173;
fire and fury;
vials of wrath;
gnashing of teeth,
hot blood,
high words.
scowl
etc.
895;
sulks
etc.
901.1.
[Cause of umbrage]
affront,
provocation,
offense;
indignity
etc.
(insult)
929;
grudge,
crow to pluck,
bone to pick,
sore subject,
casus belli [Lat.];
ill turn,
outrage.
Furies,
Eumenides.
buffet,
slap in the face,
box on the ear,
rap on the knuckles.
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