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 Nasdaq Composite gained 2.5% on Thursday after a painful 2% drop on Wednesday.

From Barron's • Jun. 11, 2026

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

"We know we will never be able to come to terms with her death, and life without her is painful and hard to bear," she said.

From BBC • Jun. 9, 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

I’d felt like a complete jerk, especially since I knew what it was to walk in those particularly painful shoes.

From "Glitch" by Laura Martin

painful

Example Sentences

Related Words