PAINFUL Synonyms: 90 Similar and Opposite Words

painful

adjective

ˈpān-fəl

Definition of painful

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in harsh

hard to accept or bear especially emotionally it's been very painful to accept that my father is gone forever

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of painful Kaepernick’s vigilance did, however, force us to consider the painful and problematic relationship between law enforcement and people of color. — Mike Jones, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026 Every year is painful, but when homeowners opened bills this year, there has been a more palpable sense of urgency. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 15 Sep. 2026 The betrayal is all the more painful, coming amid almost constant Russian drone and missile attacks and ahead of a winter that Moscow openly plans to weaponize. — Clare Sebastian, CNN Money, 15 Sep. 2026 In approximately a third of the world’s population, the virus will reactivate decades later to cause the infamously painful shingles rash; for reasons yet unknown, rates of shingles are increasing worldwide. — Andrew Bubak, The Conversation, 14 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for painful

Recent Examples of Synonyms for painful

Adjective

Rookie shortstop Kaelen Culpepper was sore but in good spirits on Sunday morning after he was struck by a pitch on the back of his right shoulder in Saturday’s victory.

— Dan Hayes, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
Bank of America was a sore spot in the session as well, falling 5%.

— Sean Conlon,Elsa Ohlen,Justina Lee,Alex Harring, CNBC, 13 Sep. 2026

Definition of sore

Adjective

Avoid acidic cleaners like vinegar or lemon, as well as harsh chemicals and abrasive tools, to protect the glaze.

— Alexandra Kelly, Martha Stewart, 5 Sep. 2026
The frustration within the Democratic caucus immediately prompted some calls for harsh consequences.

— Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of harsh

Adjective

The homestretch of the drama, however, takes the story in a chilling direction, packing an aching quantity of feeling into a single glance at a security camera as someone climbs into a car and leaves the compound, never to be heard from again.

— Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 26 May 2026
Charles Frazier, Cold Mountain (1997) Charles Frazier’s Cold Mountain is an aching, tender slow burn shaped by absence.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 Apr. 2026

Definition of aching

Adjective

Like her, Americans are also so tired of being screwed by an administration that’s not only grossly incompetent and cruel but corrupt as well.

— Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 6 Sep. 2026
Rather than heroic, these costly and horribly uncertain stunts come across callous and cruel.

— Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of cruel

Adjective

At a gathering with other artists, a seemingly playful party game culminates in an excruciating monologue about child abuse.

— Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2026
Tell me another team this talented that has found this many ways to lose baseball games in the most excruciating way imaginable.

— Jayson Stark, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of excruciating

Adjective

Of course, Kiffin left, a bitter and acrimonious separation that played out over 14 agonizing days, just as the Rebels prepped for their first College Football Playoff game in history.

— Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2026
The brazen and agonizing theft of 88 million euros ($102 million) worth of crown jewels from display cases in the Louvre's Apollo gallery served as a wake-up call.

— ABC News, ABC News, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of agonizing

Adjective

After years of upheaval in Florida State athletics—including a then-unprecedented flirtation with private equity and a bitter legal fight with the Atlantic Coast Conference—the school has parted ways with athletic director Michael Alford.

— Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 14 Sep. 2026
Of course, Kiffin left, a bitter and acrimonious separation that played out over 14 agonizing days, just as the Rebels prepped for their first College Football Playoff game in history.

— Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of bitter

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pained

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“Painful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/painful. Accessed 20 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of painful

adjective

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