painless

adjective

pain·​less ˈpān-ləs How to pronounce painless (audio)
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

Examples of painless in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Pushing past fears or powerful messages that define us and going against societal constraints is not painless. Lizz Schumer, Peoplemag, 9 Mar. 2024 Many big brands have tried to make returns as free and painless as possible, and consumers haven’t hesitated to take advantage. Brian Cheung, NBC News, 7 Jan. 2024 At the last minute, Mike will inevitably use his memory to find a painless path to victory. Travis M. Andrews, Washington Post, 13 Dec. 2023 While painless, Cama said that lesions may appear red, raised, ulcerated, nodular, and or large. Nick Blackmer, Verywell Health, 29 Oct. 2023 Capturing existing credentials, generating new passwords, and saving our new logins was also painless. PCMAG, 6 Feb. 2024 Payouts are fast and painless, though, as with most poker sites, crypto is significantly faster. Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 13 Jan. 2024 But assuming the 2% goal remains, wringing the last percentage point from overall inflation will not be easy or painless. Tom Saler, Journal Sentinel, 11 Jan. 2024 The Fed sees a reduction in job openings as a painless way — compared with layoffs — to reduce pressure on companies to raise wages to attract and keep workers, which can lead to higher prices. Paul Wiseman, Fortune, 3 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'painless.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1534, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of painless was in 1534

Dictionary Entries Near painless

Cite this Entry

“Painless.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/painless. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

painless

adjective
pain·​less ˈpān-ləs How to pronounce painless (audio)
1
: not experiencing pain
2
: not causing pain : not accompanied by pain : not painful
painless surgery
painlessly adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on painless

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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