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
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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
Jon Hamilton, NPR, 6 Sep. 2025
Besides the pain, discomfort and fatigue from the surgery and general anesthesia, you are typically left with urinary leakage and incontinence and erectile dysfunction for at least a while.
—Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 6 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
In fact, those in the medical community, including the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, said in a statement that acetaminophen is safe and recommended for use in pregnancy, especially to treat fever and pain.
—Jon Hamilton, NPR, 6 Sep. 2025
Besides the pain, discomfort and fatigue from the surgery and general anesthesia, you are typically left with urinary leakage and incontinence and erectile dysfunction for at least a while.
—Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 6 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
-
Symptoms of Chagas disease include fever, fatigue, body aches, headache, rash, loss of appetite, diarrhea, vomiting, and eyelid swelling.—
Jasmine Laws,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Fanning — a young performer long admired for her precision and emotional intelligence on screen — brings a quiet ache and layered restraint to the role.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
31 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Eileen’s imminent arrival is made even more dramatic when a younger woman named Thea (Imogen Poots) turns up at Hedda’s door in a state of distress.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
9 Sep. 2025
-
However, without Chinese demand, this abundant supply threatens to further depress prices and worsen farmers’ financial distress.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
This number varies by age and location, but in the instance that private child care providers can receive $10,000 through the ESA program, that means the majority of tuition could be covered for families considering this option.—
Lina Ruiz
September 8,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Available in 9 different colors, the hanging organizer has four different zippered compartments roomy enough to hold full-size hair care products, brushes, combs, and more.—
Amelia McBride,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
At work, prioritize diverse, representative, ethical datasets while investing in continuous learning for both AI and human literacy.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
-
His work is recognized for rejecting straight lines in favor of rounded, continuous forms and for being approachable yet full of personality.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Couples who respect yellow lights tend to build trust, because hesitation is treated as valuable input, not as a nuisance.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
-
In this era of college athletics what was once a nuisance and an annoyance — college classes — now often appear to not even be a part of the equation.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Although Hill later attributed his end-of-season outburst to frustration due to a fractured wrist that ailed him all season and the Dolphins’ lack of a playoff berth, his actions likely hurt many of his teammates.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Yet even in the face of these losses, many retailers remain hesitant to modernize their approach to returns, fearing that stricter policies could hurt customer satisfaction.—
Footwear News,
Footwear News,
4 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
-
Poor people know the intimate, badgering pangs of hunger, but in Ireland, the memory of the 1845-1848 Famine—the Great Hunger, when one million died from starvation and disease, and another million emigrated—still aches.—
Philip Metres
August 27,
Literary Hub,
27 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 11 Sep. 2025.
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