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more painful

ADJECTIVE

physically or mentally agonizing

Synonyms

STRONGEST

agonizing arduous awful difficult dire distasteful distressing excruciating hard harrowing 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.

But the cocktail’s second ingredient, misoprostol, can be used to produce abortion on its own — a method that’s often more painful and slightly less effective.

From Los Angeles Times • May 9, 2026

The Oklahoma City Thunder condemned the Los Angeles Lakers to one of the heaviest defeats in their history - one made more painful by an injury to star Luka Doncic.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

His Sunday show appearances have grown progressively more painful to watch.

From Salon • Apr. 1, 2026

Yet those cost increases are likely to be far more painful for rival device makers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 4, 2026

My doctor walks back in, saving me from a parental conversation that might be even more painful than my elbow.

From "Love, Hate & Other Filters" by Samira Ahmed