Definitions

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.

The firm also acknowledged how a wrong-way bet on an expected decline or climb in SpaceX shares risks being painful for traders.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 11, 2026

“It’s a really painful time in the community,” said Jarrod Bernstein, a New York lawyer and former liaison to the Jewish community for President Obama.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 8, 2026

Now I've got the car, it feels very painful, but a long way to go.

From BBC • Jun. 7, 2026

When the eggs hatch into maggots, the maggots eat live tissue, causing a worsening, often painful and foul-smelling wound, according to the CDC.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 6, 2026

“Perhaps it was caused by the painful tooth. To some extent the marring effects of Watergate may have played a part.”

From "Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War" by Steve Sheinkin

painful

Example Sentences

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