Synonyms of painful

painful

adjective

ˈpān-fəl 

1

as in sore

causing or feeling bodily pain

a very painful toothache

her broken arm was too painful for her to go on the trip

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sore
• aching
• hurting
• damaging
• hurtful
• injurious
• swollen
• nasty
• afflictive
• achy
• agonizing
• excruciating
• torturous
• pinching
• harmful
• bleeding
• detrimental
• pernicious
• deleterious
• severe
• noxious
• stinging
• burning
• nagging
• tender
• raw
• grievous
• inflamed
• cramping
• threatening
• smarting
• festering
• chafing
• itching
• prickling
• pricking
• wounding

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• painless
• helping
• remedial
• healing
• indolent
• curative

2

as in harsh

hard to accept or bear especially emotionally

it's been very painful to accept that my father is gone forever

Synonyms & Similar Words

• harsh
• cruel
• torturous
• excruciating
• agonizing
• bitter
• horrible
• terrible
• severe
• hurtful
• harrowing
• unacceptable
• awful
• unbearable
• grievous
• galling
• dreadful
• bad
• tormenting
• miserable
• heartrending
• intolerable
• afflicting
• unendurable
• dire
• intense
• insufferable
• nasty
• appalling
• acute
• vile
• insupportable
• extreme
• ghastly
• wretched
• unsupportable
• rotten
• piercing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• sweet
• gratifying
• pleasing
• tolerable
• bearable
• endurable
• sustainable
• acceptable
• supportable
• survivable
• reasonable
• livable
• allowable
• sufferable

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of painful

And candidates for political office don’t like talking about painful cuts to services or increases in taxes. — David Plymyer, Baltimore Sun, 13 Aug. 2026

Even shoes that feel comfortable at first can leave me with painful blisters after a full day of walking. — Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 13 Aug. 2026

While their stings are painful, wasps and hornets play a vital role in controlling other insect pests. — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 13 Aug. 2026

On Wednesday, the surrogate gave birth in Texas to the baby — who has become the subject of a public and painful battle spanning multiple courts and political venues. — Praveena Somasundaram, Washington Post, 13 Aug. 2026