painful

adjective

pain·​ful ˈpān-fəl 

painfuller ˈpān-fə-lər  ; painfullest

1

a

: feeling or giving pain

a painful injury

b

: irksome, annoying

2

: requiring effort or exertion

a long painful trip

3

archaic : careful, diligent

painfully

ˈpān-f(ə-)lē 

adverb

painfulness

ˈpān-fəl-nəs 

noun

Synonyms of painful

• sore
• aching
• hurting

Examples of painful in a Sentence

I got a painful sunburn.

We can't ignore our country's painful history of slavery.

His questions brought up a lot of painful memories.

It was painful to watch.

Recent Examples on the Web

Then came the fourth quarter, which was even more painful in the 114-104 loss. — Charlotte Observer, 4 Nov. 2026

The third quarter was another painful one for German menswear specialist Hugo Boss, with a sales drop and the company lowering its guidance for the full year. — Cathrin Schaer, Footwear News, 3 Nov. 2026

Forget your previous experience—many of us think that exercise should be tiring and painful to work. — Laura Solla, Vogue, 3 Nov. 2026

Scar-like tissue may form, leaving less room for the joint to move and making the shoulder increasingly painful and stiff. — Emily Cegielski, Flow Space, 3 Nov. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing painful

• painful to the touch

Rhymes for painful

• baneful
• gainful
• disdainful

Kids Definition

painful

adjective

pain·​ful ˈpān-fəl 

: feeling or giving pain

painfully

-f(ə-)lē 

adverb

painfulness

-fəl-nəs 

noun

Medical Definition

painful

adjective

pain·​ful ˈpān-fəl 

painfuller -fə-lər  ; painfullest

: feeling or giving pain

painfully

-f(ə-)lē 

adverb