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.

See Examples For:

painful

Without the right support, what starts as unconscious mimicry of peers’ behavior in childhood can exact a painful toll as time goes on.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026

Chairman Willie Watt called the losses "painful" but said the bank had learned lessons.

From BBC ● Aug. 24, 2026

Volkswagen's "workers have already to accept hefty and painful cuts and now are getting another slap in the face," Christiane Benner told the Wirtschaftswoche weekly.

From Barron's ● Aug. 23, 2026

“We’ve done a lot of zigzags, some very painful, some hard but joyful,” Bancel said in an interview the day after the results were announced.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 22, 2026

Stumbling on painful feet, they explored the cliff faces nearby.

From "Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World" by Jennifer Armstrong

painful

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Related Words