1
: feeling pain : hurt
2
: expressing or involving pain
a pained expression
with pained surprise
Examples of pained in a Sentence
She wore a pained expression on her face.
He truly looked pained when he heard the news.
Recent Examples on the Web
Rebecca Hall is an incredible horror heroine, turning in phenomenally spooky and pained performances in The Night House and Resurrection.
—
Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 12 June 2026
Naturally, some of the criticism was sharp and pained.
—Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 31 May 2026
The staff member offered a pained smile in acknowledgment.
—Rania Abouzeid, New Yorker, 21 May 2026
One son was so pained by sunlight that his father covered the windows in black plastic.
—Mary Beth Sheridan, CNN Money, 17 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for pained
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Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 12 June 2026
Naturally, some of the criticism was sharp and pained.
—Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 31 May 2026
The staff member offered a pained smile in acknowledgment.
—Rania Abouzeid, New Yorker, 21 May 2026
One son was so pained by sunlight that his father covered the windows in black plastic.
—Mary Beth Sheridan, CNN Money, 17 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for pained
Cite this Entry
“Pained.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pained. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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