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View synonyms for painful

painful

[ peyn-fuhl ]

adjective

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

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

    Synonyms: excruciating, agonizing

  2. laborious; exacting; difficult:

    a painful life.

    Synonyms: arduous

    Antonyms: easy

  3. Archaic. painstaking; careful.


painful

/ ˈpeɪnfʊl /

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


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Derived Forms

  • ˈpainfully, adverb
  • ˈpainfulness, noun
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Other Words From

  • painful·ly adverb
  • painful·ness noun
  • over·painful adjective
  • over·painful·ly adverb
  • over·painful·ness noun
  • un·painful adjective
  • un·painful·ly adverb
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Word History and Origins

Origin of painful1

Middle English word dating back to 1300–50; pain, -ful
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Example Sentences

"Sharpness is something which comes with matches and although I haven't played in a while, it will be good to find out," said Raducanu, who lamented not playing enough matches before her painful US Open first-round exit in August.

From BBC

Meanwhile, the New York Times, in a “news” article — I use that term very lightly and broadly — gave us their opinion about a “depressed and demoralized Democratic Party,” which has begun a “painful slog into a largely powerless future.”

From Salon

Peeking at post-election news is a painful endeavor for at least 50% of us who bothered to vote.

There are many within the faith who have experienced this as a deeply painful time and for whom the direction the institution takes now is profoundly important.

From BBC

Many of them will soon feel the negative consequences and painful results of their decision to turn their backs on democracy and freedom very soon.

From Salon

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Paine, Thomaspain in the neck