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.

They climbed to a 40-year peak of 9.1% — still painfully high, but a few percentage points less.

From MarketWatch • May 13, 2026

It frightens me how painfully ironic it feels to cover a film about my industry’s demise when it was “The Devil Wears Prada” that pointed me here in the first place.

From Salon • May 1, 2026

AI progress, however, has been painfully slow in 2026.

From Barron's • May 1, 2026

First-time buyers say the change is a relief although the cost of buying a home remains painfully expensive for many at a time when other bills have risen.

From BBC • Apr. 17, 2026

But what I have observed is painfully little.

From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black