Smart

The answer

ACHE

4 letters. See every clue for this answer on the ACHE answer page.

Used 9 times across 7 distinct years; most recently in 2026; first recorded in 1978. It appears in 7 publications in the xd corpus. Frequency and last-seen figures come from the xd crossword corpus only.

Other answers for this clue

The same clue has also been answered these ways in the xd corpus. Answers inside this collection link to their own answer page.

• CHIC (90 uses in xd)
• ALECK (60 uses in xd)
• ALEC (52 uses in xd)
• STING (29 uses in xd)
• NATTY (21 uses in xd)

Other clues for ACHE

Every other clue in this collection answered by ACHE, most used first.

• Dull pain - used 194 times, most recently in 2026
• Feel sore - used 162 times, most recently in 2026
• Yearn - used 153 times, most recently in 2026
• Massage target - used 97 times, most recently in 2026
• Sore spot - used 77 times, most recently in 2026
• Throb - used 64 times, most recently in 2026
• Rue the run - used 63 times, most recently in 2025
• Pain - used 59 times, most recently in 2023
• Hurt - used 56 times, most recently in 2026
• Pine - used 54 times, most recently in 2026
• Tylenol target - used 54 times, most recently in 2026
• Yearn (for) - used 52 times, most recently in 2026
• Flu symptom - used 49 times, most recently in 2023
• Muscle soreness - used 47 times, most recently in 2026
• Long (for) - used 41 times, most recently in 2024
• Yearning - used 40 times, most recently in 2025
• Long - used 38 times, most recently in 2024
• Advil target - used 37 times, most recently in 2026
• Liniment target - used 36 times, most recently in 2022
• Have sore muscles - used 35 times, most recently in 2026
• Longing - used 35 times, most recently in 2026
• Aspirin target - used 34 times, most recently in 2025
• Be sore - used 34 times, most recently in 2026
• Need liniment - used 33 times, most recently in 2024
• Soreness - used 31 times, most recently in 2026
• Tummy trouble - used 31 times, most recently in 2022
• Post-workout feeling - used 29 times, most recently in 2026
• Pang - used 27 times, most recently in 2026
• Ibuprofen target - used 25 times, most recently in 2024
• Sore feeling - used 25 times, most recently in 2026
• Need a massage - used 24 times, most recently in 2026
• Charley horse - used 23 times, most recently in 2017
• Masseur's target - used 22 times, most recently in 2020
• Workout woe - used 22 times, most recently in 2026
• Muscle malady - used 21 times, most recently in 2026
• Tooth trouble - used 21 times, most recently in 2025
• Persistent pain - used 20 times, most recently in 2026
• Pine (for) - used 20 times, most recently in 2026
• Post-workout woe - used 20 times, most recently in 2026
• Feel the pain - used 19 times, most recently in 2026
• Pain in the neck - used 19 times, most recently in 2025
• Nagging pain - used 18 times, most recently in 2026
• Twinge - used 17 times, most recently in 2011
• Throbbing pain - used 15 times, most recently in 2021
• Dull discomfort - used 14 times, most recently in 2025
• Result of overexercise - used 14 times, most recently in 2026
• Suffer - used 14 times, most recently in 2009
• Analgesic target - used 13 times, most recently in 2020
• Have a yearning - used 13 times, most recently in 2016
• Lumbago, e.g. - used 13 times, most recently in 2013
• Post-marathon feeling - used 13 times, most recently in 2026
• Stomach woe - used 13 times, most recently in 2024
• Feel pain - used 12 times, most recently in 2020
• Need an aspirin - used 12 times, most recently in 2011
• Painful throb - used 12 times, most recently in 2019
• Aleve target - used 11 times, most recently in 2026
• Belly problem - used 11 times, most recently in 2007
• Dull hurt - used 11 times, most recently in 2024
• Feel compassion - used 11 times, most recently in 2008
• Hurt all over - used 11 times, most recently in 2026
• Icy Hot target - used 11 times, most recently in 2026
• Muscle pain - used 11 times, most recently in 2022
• Need ibuprofen - used 11 times, most recently in 2020
• Word with head or heart - used 11 times, most recently in 2026
• Rue the aerobics - used 10 times, most recently in 2009
• Workout result - used 10 times, most recently in 2020
• Arthritis symptom - used 9 times, most recently in 2017
• Be in pain - used 9 times, most recently in 2026
• Bengay target - used 9 times, most recently in 2024
• Longing feeling - used 9 times, most recently in 2026
• Really long - used 9 times, most recently in 2023
• Result of overexertion - used 9 times, most recently in 2026
• Yen - used 9 times, most recently in 2018
• Be heartsick - used 8 times, most recently in 2015
• Ben-Gay target - used 8 times, most recently in 2008
• Common symptom. - used 8 times, most recently in 1966
• Get sore - used 8 times, most recently in 2022
• Heart problem? - used 8 times, most recently in 2007
• It's a pain - used 8 times, most recently in 2021
• Masseuse's target - used 8 times, most recently in 2019
• Muscle discomfort - used 8 times, most recently in 2026
• Aerobics class reminder - used 7 times, most recently in 2013
• Back problem - used 7 times, most recently in 2011
• Back woe - used 7 times, most recently in 2014
• Bit of infirmity - used 7 times, most recently in 2012
• Bit of soreness - used 7 times, most recently in 2024
• Feel stiff and sore - used 7 times, most recently in 2025
• Muscular distress - used 7 times, most recently in 2010
• Need aspirin - used 7 times, most recently in 2018
• Prolonged pain - used 7 times, most recently in 2022
• Throb painfully - used 7 times, most recently in 2025
• Tooth pain - used 7 times, most recently in 2025
• After-shoveling feeling - used 6 times, most recently in 2012
• Balm target - used 6 times, most recently in 2021
• Dentist visit initiator - used 6 times, most recently in 2015
• Feel a dull pain - used 6 times, most recently in 2019
• Have a sore spot - used 6 times, most recently in 2015
• Joint concern? - used 6 times, most recently in 2012
• Joint problem - used 6 times, most recently in 2020
• Not quite smart - used 6 times, most recently in 2024
• Pain in the neck, maybe - used 6 times, most recently in 2026
• Pain in the neck, perhaps - used 6 times, most recently in 2025
• Post-marathon woe - used 6 times, most recently in 2023
• Post-workout soreness - used 6 times, most recently in 2025
• Suffer heartbreak - used 6 times, most recently in 2012
• Throb with pain - used 6 times, most recently in 2026
• Tooth woe - used 6 times, most recently in 2015

Related clues

Clues in this collection of the same answer length that share a word with this clue, or match its answer pattern when no word is shared. Most used first.

• Smart - CHIC, used 90 times
• Smart guy? - ALEC, used 59 times
• Smart ___ - ALEC, used 52 times
• Smart-alecky - PERT, used 51 times
• Get smart with - SASS, used 36 times
• Smart talk - SASS, used 27 times

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