painful

[peyn-fuhl] / ˈpeɪn fəl /

ADJECTIVE

physically or mentally agonizing

Synonyms

STRONGEST

agonizing arduous awful difficult dire distasteful distressing excruciating hard harrowing heart-wrenching hurtful severe tedious terrible troublesome uncomfortable unpleasant

WEAK

aching afflictive biting burning caustic disagreeable dreadful extreme extremely bad grievous hurting inflamed irritated laborious piercing raw saddening sensitive sharp smarting sore stinging tender throbbing tormenting trying vexatious

Antonyms

STRONGEST

agreeable calm easy facile friendly good great helpful mild nice pleasant pleasing simple wonderful

WEAK

delightful painless

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

People near the scene reported feeling their throat become painful and itchy, with one 70-year-old woman telling AFP that it started "stinging and hurting" as she approached the ATM.

From BBC • May 25, 2026

"I couldn't breathe. I couldn't stand. It's very painful and we did not know what to do," the daughter said.

From Barron's • May 25, 2026

“I wanted to do a film about your country, but I wouldn’t watch it if I did. I couldn’t. It’s too painful and it’s like bad fiction.”

From Salon • May 22, 2026

Nearly one in four adults over 40 lives with painful osteoarthritis, a condition that can make everyday movement difficult and is one of the major causes of adult disability.

From Science Daily • May 22, 2026

As if to test my hardiness, Detective Webster gave my hand a painful squeeze.

From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan

painful

Example Sentences

Related Words