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Showing results for painful. Search instead for painfuln.
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.

“Success may require everyone to make painful concessions,” he said in a post on X. “But this is nothing as compared to the pain of failure and war.”

From Barron's • Apr. 12, 2026

While it can cause painful blisters or ulcers that recur over time, it can lay dormant with most people having no symptoms - and Helen never had a cold sore herself.

From BBC • Apr. 12, 2026

“Success may require everyone to make painful concessions,” he said in a post on X. “But this is nothing as compared to the pain of failure and war.”

From Barron's • Apr. 12, 2026

Tomatoes — one of Cuba’s most abundant seasonal crops — are a painful example.

From Salon • Apr. 11, 2026

He was the one who would have to say the painful words.

From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin