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.

Barrow said in his address that the latest tragedy was a "painful reminder of the dangerous and life-threatening nature of irregular migration".

From Barron's

It can be painful, and cover the body from head to toe.

From BBC

“The idea is: If you allow yourself to feel the painful or unpleasant emotions, they don’t stay trapped. You free yourself of them.”

From Los Angeles Times

Deciding to end a marriage can be difficult, painful and expensive, but the state is giving more couples who choose to amicably call it quits access to a low-cost divorce option.

From Los Angeles Times

A fresh shutdown could be a bit less painful.

From MarketWatch

painful

Example Sentences

Related Words