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
Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 11 Jan. 2026
Nacua lay on the turf at Bank of America Stadium, not in physical pain but instead in mental anguish.
—Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 11 Jan. 2026
Dayanne S. Antonio, The Conversation, 18 Sep. 2025
Aggrieved and pained, Mary returns from the grave to exact revenge on anyone who steps inside her family home.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pain
Noun
That’s important because neurons remember past stimulation, and pain sensitivity depends on history.
—Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 11 Jan. 2026
Nacua lay on the turf at Bank of America Stadium, not in physical pain but instead in mental anguish.
—Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 11 Jan. 2026
Verb
When the body feels stress, your heart rate and blood pressure jump, stress chemicals rise, and the brain may turn pain down for a moment.
—Dayanne S. Antonio, The Conversation, 18 Sep. 2025
Aggrieved and pained, Mary returns from the grave to exact revenge on anyone who steps inside her family home.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pain
Noun
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Studies show that 50 percent of the global population is estimated to suffer from a Vitamin D insufficiency, and this time of year, the effects are even more obvious thanks to a lack of sun exposure—mood swings and fatigue set in, and general aches and pains can become worse.—
Emma Greene,
InStyle,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Their days are filled with doctor’s visits and pill bottles, aches and pains.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The West African nation was last year among 23 sub-Saharan African countries at risk of debt distress, according to the World Bank, and rising debt service costs have long stymied government spending in vital areas such as education, health, and infrastructure.—
Preeti Jha,
semafor.com,
14 Jan. 2026
-
The complaint claims that ChatGPT romanticized death and reassured Gordon during moments of emotional distress.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Summit speakers explored the current landscape of business and industry across health care, child care, education, manufacturing and development sectors, by discussing trends, challenges and opportunities shaping the region’s economy.—
Marianne Love,
Daily News,
13 Jan. 2026
-
But even without a health plan, people will still need medical care.—
Blake Farmer,
Miami Herald,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Tsvyk later reported to the police that thousands of dollars, her purse, clothes, passport and work visa were missing, and that’s when the New York Police Department got involved.—
Raven Brunner,
PEOPLE,
16 Jan. 2026
-
Jensen’s mother, Jean Jensen, is an acclaimed painter whose work has been exhibited around the Plains and Midwest and had works selected to be displayed at a US embassy.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Aside from being a general nuisance with their ferocious snores, pungent odors and growls, bears can do serious damage to a home.—
Hannah Fry,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Jan. 2026
-
There’s a world in which Minus One is disquieting, where the nuisance of who started that war is totally lost and instead we’re treated to a nationalistic uprising.—
James Grebey,
Vulture,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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One later pleaded guilty to violent civil rights violations in federal court, and two others were convicted either of hurting a man without cause or conspiring to violate civil rights.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
20 Jan. 2026
-
The turnovers definitely hurt, especially at any swing moment.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
20 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Children go to bed early to avoid the pang of hunger; parents choose between filling a prescription and buying groceries.—
Regina Garcia Cano,
Fortune,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Children go to bed early to avoid the pang of hunger; parents choose between filling a prescription and buying groceries.—
Regina Garcia Cano,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The dramatic arc of the film’s first half — filled with the ecstasy of God’s embrace and the agony of imprisonment — is told through musical numbers, adapted from the Shakers’ ecstatic worship, dance, hymns, and music (watch the video above to learn more).—
Chris O'Falt,
IndieWire,
7 Jan. 2026
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One year before Ingri and Edgar Parin D’Aulaire published their compendium of Greek myths, Cicellis released her second work of fiction, The Way to Colonos, which ruthlessly dramatizes the limits of individual freedom and the agony of facing one’s powerlessness.—
Rachel Vorona Cote,
The Atlantic,
5 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pain. Accessed 22 Jan. 2026.
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