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
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Recent Examples of pain
Aisha Alves, Rolling Stone, 15 May 2026
Maddison came on midway through the second half against Newcastle but lasted 10 minutes before dropping to the floor in pain.
—Jay Harris, New York Times, 15 May 2026
Literary Hub, 31 Mar. 2026
But the record is far less gothic than its predecessor, less obviously pained.
—Ben Cardew, Pitchfork, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pain
Noun
In a study of more than 5,000 midlife women presented by researchers affiliated with The Menopause Society, over 40 percent reported having used cannabis recreationally or therapeutically, often citing sleep issues, anxiety, stress or chronic pain as motivating factors.
—Aisha Alves, Rolling Stone, 15 May 2026
Maddison came on midway through the second half against Newcastle but lasted 10 minutes before dropping to the floor in pain.
—Jay Harris, New York Times, 15 May 2026
Verb
Today, mindful of the most recent wars, mindful of all the atrocities com-mitted, this happy fantasy has lost its charm, death has lost its innocence, pain its magnitude, irreversible.
—Literary Hub, 31 Mar. 2026
But the record is far less gothic than its predecessor, less obviously pained.
—Ben Cardew, Pitchfork, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pain
Noun
-
Among the symptoms people reported were gastrointestinal illness, fever, general malaise, pneumonia, fatigue, aches and respiratory symptoms.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
-
The man sought medical care twice — first with a fever, muscle aches, chills, headache and fatigue, then with vomiting and diarrhea.—
Aria Bendix,
NBC news,
12 May 2026
Noun
-
Interfering with a fawn is discouraged; observe from a distance and contact wildlife professionals only if the fawn shows signs of injury, distress, or the mother's prolonged absence.—
Cody Godwin,
USA Today,
13 May 2026
-
There is tap-dancing, a wall that resembles the night sky, a prop headband that resembles a Plumbob, and the discovery that every actor onstage can imitate the animation a Sim does while in distress.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
From the concierge who nimbly assisted me with dining and fitness class reservations to the kind dining staff, the friendly Miami team made sure I was always taken care of and was incredibly helpful at offering local recommendations and insight.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
19 May 2026
-
As a result, New Zealand's Health and Disability Commissioner has found that those responsible for the girl's welfare did not communicate effectively and also lacked culturally appropriate care.—
Adam England,
PEOPLE,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
The offense needs a lot of work, and Monken, who has 11 years of NFL offensive coaching experience (though never as a head coach), is tasked with fixing it.—
Saad Yousuf,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
-
The new ranch comes with a coffee-drinking porch (mandatory), but it is weathered, rustic and needs work.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
The hotel is on a block next to a major road, but the noise is more of a distant city hum than a nuisance.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
14 May 2026
-
Sargassum has become an increasingly expensive nuisance for coastal communities, and as blooms become larger due to warming water temperatures because of climate change and fertilizer run off providing blooms with endless nutrients, the problem will continue to mushroom.—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers left the game mid at-bat in the eighth inning after hurting his wrist on a foul-ball swing.—
Betsy Helfand,
Twin Cities,
19 May 2026
-
Missing debt payments can hurt your credit score relatively quickly, particularly if accounts become 30 or 60 days past due.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
19 May 2026
Noun
-
Down to the volatile sound design and pangs of romantic yearning, to say nothing of the first-person cinematography lensed by Dhont regular Frank van den Eeden, this movie follows Pierre’s every move from the inside out.—
David Canfield,
HollywoodReporter,
12 May 2026
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Help keep your hunger pangs at bay while on a road trip or at the office with this multi-pack of trail mixes.—
Michele Laufik,
Martha Stewart,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
Kirby, screaming in agony, was on his knees as officers ordered him to drop a knife, according to video.—
David K. Li,
NBC news,
15 May 2026
-
The sight of a heart-and-soul player in agony on the ice, then being helped off it — by captain Marie-Philip Poulin, Stacey’s wife — was a shock.—
Hailey Salvian,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pain. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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