1
as in ache
a sharp unpleasant sensation usually felt in some specific part of the body
the child was crying because of a pain in her knee
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in distress
a state of great suffering of body or mind
a sprained ankle caused him great pain for a week
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in care
pains plural
strict attentiveness to what one is doing
asked the movers to take pains to be sure that they didn't damage anything while moving the furniture
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in work
pains plural
the active use of energy in producing a result
she was at pains to reassure us that everything would be fine
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in nuisance
one who is obnoxiously annoying
sometimes that child, who apparently never tires of asking questions, can be such a pain
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of pain
Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Sep. 2025
Tylenol is a brand name for the pain reliever acetaminophen.
—Jacqueline Howard, CNN Money, 12 Sep. 2025
Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 20 Aug. 2025
While Bane steps on a LEGO, and is immediately pained, fans might recognize the voice behind the scene.
—James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pain
Noun
Then, there’s the power to see through all of that, through what could be perceived as pain or a negative situation, and see the colorfulness of my culture, the warmth of my culture, and the community, as well.
—Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Sep. 2025
Tylenol is a brand name for the pain reliever acetaminophen.
—Jacqueline Howard, CNN Money, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
Aggrieved and pained, Mary returns from the grave to exact revenge on anyone who steps inside her family home.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 20 Aug. 2025
While Bane steps on a LEGO, and is immediately pained, fans might recognize the voice behind the scene.
—James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pain
Noun
-
Because sometimes, the slow erosion of a relationship isn’t caused by infidelity at all, but by the quiet ache of a partner who gives just enough to get by.—
Essence,
Essence,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Flu symptoms can include aches, cough, fatigue, fever, headache, sore throat and a stuffy or runny nose, according to the CDC.—
Sara Schilling,
Idaho Statesman,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Those with suicide ideation might attempt suicide, but these attempts often represent a desire to escape distress as opposed to end-of-life issues.—
Eric Wood,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
-
In Pennsylvania, lawmakers have still not broken out of the impasse, spelling financial distress for schools and counties that rely particularly heavily on state funding.—
Isabella Volmert,
Fortune,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
That sets up a showdown over expiring Obamacare subsidies and other health-care funding priorities, with Democrats vowing to block any measure that ignores them and some moderate Republicans signaling openness to a deal to avoid steep premium hikes for millions of Americans.—
Nino Paoli,
Fortune,
14 Sep. 2025
-
Instead of ad hoc testing, agree on consistent ways to show care (a daily check-in, a goodnight text, a weekly date).—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
And the handle took a lot of work.—
Megan McIntyre,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Norman's posts on social media, which primarily focused on community policing work, drew enough attention that in 2021 then-President Joe Biden awarded Norman and 15 others the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
According to the California Penal Code, a nuisance can be charged as a misdemeanor.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
14 Sep. 2025
-
The recent interference with the European Commission President’s aircraft showed how quickly GPS denial can shift from nuisance to geopolitical signal.—
Kapil Kajal,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
But some of his campaign’s reactions to Fetterman’s stroke in May 2022 hurt his chances even more.—
Kimberly Ross,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Lopes is a very tough fighter, but his inability to stay technical will hurt him against the powerful Silva.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
After all, who wants to feel the pangs of self-doubt, anxiety, or chronic stress?—
Maia Niguel Hoskin,
Forbes.com,
1 Sep. 2025
-
But honestly, for me at least, there were also pangs of a quite familiar feeling: mom guilt.—
Sona Charaipotra,
Parents,
29 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Hank, having already experienced life-changing failure, is also able to absorb beatings that would destroy most people, endure the agony, and leap back into action.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
28 Aug. 2025
-
The buddy story ended in agony when it was revealed that Edwards was on the list and complicit in the ambush plot.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
28 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pain. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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