Advertisement

Advertisement

View synonyms for

painful

[ peyn-fuhl ]

adjective

  1. affected with, causing, or characterized by pain:

    a painful wound; a painful night; a painful memory.

    Synonyms: ,

  2. laborious; exacting; difficult:

    a painful life.

    Synonyms:

    Antonyms:

  3. Archaic. painstaking; careful.


painful

/ ˈɪԴʊ /

adjective

  1. causing pain; distressing

    a painful duty

  2. affected with pain

    a painful leg

  3. tedious or difficult
  4. informal.
    extremely bad

    a painful performance

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Discover More

Derived Forms

  • ˈ貹Դڳܱ, adverb
  • ˈ貹ԴڳܱԱ, noun
Discover More

Other Word Forms

  • 貹fܱ· adverb
  • 貹fܱ·Ա noun
  • v·貹fܱ adjective
  • over·貹fܱ· adverb
  • over·貹fܱ·Ա noun
  • ܲ·貹fܱ adjective
  • un·貹fܱ· adverb
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of painful1

Middle English word dating back to 1300–50; pain, -ful
Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

It was PSG in a microcosm, Rice's warning delivered in the most painful manner.

From

Here, Todd has his youngest character summarize the painful central paradox of trans life — in Nazi Germany nearly a century ago, and possibly in tomorrow’s America.

From

“John’s been able to condense everything—good and painful, joyful and serious—about this country we live in, in two minutes and 30 seconds.”

From

The Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations, Riyad Mansour, at times his voice breaking, hands shaking, told the judges it has "never been more painful to be Palestinian".

From

"If it was as close as people are saying it is, then that's what is painful because I wasn't outclassed or hurt in there," he says.

From

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


Painesvillepain in the neck