painless

adjective

pain·​less ˈpān-ləs 

1

: not causing or accompanied by physical pain : not painful

a painless skin growth

painless medical procedures

… the medical exam may include an electrocardiogram, or EKG. This noninvasive test is a painless procedure that measures your heart's activity.

—Sarah Shelton

The relatively painless injections are intended to provide temporary relief for arthritic pain and stiffness.

—Larry Katzenstein

2

: not difficult : not causing or involving complications or emotional distress

There's an easy way to apply for federal aid in the form of grants and student loans: Just fill out the FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid. It's a fairly painless process, and you can even do it online.

—Maurie Backman

a quick and painless solution

painlessly adverb

painlessness noun

Synonyms of painless

• easy
• smooth
• simple
• cheap

Examples of painless in a Sentence

getting paid to watch and review movies seems like a painless way to earn a living

Recent Examples on the Web

The plumping effect was actually painless but was still noticeable and gave me a natural juicy pout as opposed to a more dramatic swell. — Tasha Nicole Smith, Allure, 2 Nov. 2026

The entire process, which is designed to give brands control over quality and traceability, starts with a small and painless biopsy, Reyva said. — Roy Stephen Canivel, Footwear News, 2 Nov. 2026

Breakouts can look like milder, painless white bumps or dark specks known as whiteheads and blackheads, or more painful red bumps and deeper cysts — a mark of cystic acne. — Adithi Ramakrishnan, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026

In contrast, the various legal methods of human execution — from hanging to electrocution to gassing — are neither peaceful nor painless. — Dr. Jacob Appel, New York Daily News, 8 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1534, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for painless

• brainless
• rainless
• stainless

Medical Definition

painless

adjective

pain·​less ˈpān-ləs 

1

: not experiencing pain

2

: not causing pain : not accompanied by pain : not painful

painless surgery

painlessly adverb