painfully

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.

I have a painfully naive fantasy of being a war correspondent, but that’s not what this is.

From Slate • Jun. 24, 2026

To a significant degree, this change is about Americans waking up to facts that were painfully obvious to nearly everyone else.

From Salon • Jun. 21, 2026

Growing up in the home counties, Caleb said it was "painfully obvious to everyone within a few metres of me that I'm English".

From BBC • Jun. 18, 2026

“I appreciate that they go up there with nothing, just a mic and their wits. By comparison, you seem painfully sincere as a songwriter. I like that uncomfortable shift.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 16, 2026

His laughs came low and painfully like hiccoughs.

From "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" by Carson McCullers