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.

See Examples For:

painful

It’s something that’s completely uncontrollable and it’s really painful and it’s really scary and women need a lot of support.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026

Estrangement is painful, confusing and frustrating, and it also comes with some real-world consequences.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 18, 2026

The findings suggest that imagery-based techniques can change how people respond to current challenges by allowing them to "write" new, safe endings to painful experiences from the past.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 18, 2026

For investors enthralled by soaring corporate profits, headlines about the painful consequences from climate change are largely just background noise, experts say.

From Barron's ● Aug. 14, 2026

It was hard to tell which was more painful, seeing him like that, or watching Togbe gaze silently at him.

From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo

painful

Example Sentences

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