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
Nicole Duarte, NBC news, 20 Mar. 2026
Twenty-five years ago, Julia Labes was in severe pain in the emergency room.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 20 Mar. 2026
Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 14 Nov. 2025
All reporting around the deal indicated that Dončić never planned to leave Dallas, and his emotional return to Texas in April indicated that the pain of the surprise move still pained him.
—Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 11 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pain
Noun
The woman, Alexia Moore, was arrested on March 4, months after she was rushed to the emergency room with abdominal pain, according to an arrest warrant affidavit.
—Nicole Duarte, NBC news, 20 Mar. 2026
Twenty-five years ago, Julia Labes was in severe pain in the emergency room.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 20 Mar. 2026
Verb
There’s always scar tissue, always pain.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 14 Nov. 2025
All reporting around the deal indicated that Dončić never planned to leave Dallas, and his emotional return to Texas in April indicated that the pain of the surprise move still pained him.
—Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 11 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pain
Noun
-
People may initially have fever, headache, fatigue, nausea, vomiting or muscle aches.—
Katia Hetter,
CNN Money,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Mpox symptoms include a sometimes painful, blistery rash on various parts of the body, fever, chills, exhaustion, muscle aches, headache, swollen lymph nodes and respiratory symptoms, according to the CDC.—
Melissa Rudy,
FOXNews.com,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
When Hilton faced distress, Blackstone had to restructure the hotel’s debt in 2010.—
Luisa Beltran,
Sportico.com,
18 Mar. 2026
-
The plaintiffs are asking the court for damages for emotional distress and other harms caused by the images.—
Huo Jingnan,
NPR,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
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For example, individual filers can receive up to $994, couples filing jointly can receive $1,491, and those providing essential care to SSI recipients can receive up to $498.—
Asher Notheis,
The Washington Examiner,
17 Mar. 2026
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While state lawmakers have passed nearly 50 new laws aimed at improving youth mental health, Colorado Health Institute found 44% of kids who needed care last year didn't get it due to a lack of money or insurance.—
Shaun Boyd,
CBS News,
17 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Dark, sexy, thrillingly complicated—across the last 60 years, Charlotte Rampling’s oeuvre has been unparalleled, and now, at the age of 80, the Oscar nominee is still hard at work.—
Radhika Seth,
Vogue,
20 Mar. 2026
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By night, this nifty work area transforms into Spotted Stone, the hotel’s plush cocktail bar lounge.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Pollution was legally viewed as a local nuisance – the unavoidable price of progress.—
Ella Whitman,
The Conversation,
19 Mar. 2026
-
Quantum measurement disturbance, ordinarily a nuisance, would serve as a shield against prying eyes.—
Ben Brubaker,
Quanta Magazine,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Your discerning side notices details others miss, so name what works and what hurts before proposing adjustments that would fix the latter.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Mar. 2026
-
But if the situation drags on, higher energy prices could start to weigh more heavily on the global economy, hurting consumers, slowing growth, and keeping markets under pressure.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The book cover trend, imbued with nostalgia for childhood, promises fiction that grapples with the pangs of adulthood in an age of precarity.—
Maddie Connors,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Mar. 2026
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Minnesota fans may have had some mild pangs over parting with Buium or Rossi, but a mid- to late-20s pick for arguably the best defenseman on the planet?—
Sean McIndoe,
New York Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Movie night meant a trip to the video store, and every household knew the agony of forgetting to rewind before returning a rental.—
Ryan Brennan,
Kansas City Star,
20 Mar. 2026
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The celebrated poet and memoirist, delves into the agonies of her decision and describes the emerging women’s liberation movement, of which Moore would soon become a participant.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pain. Accessed 23 Mar. 2026.
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