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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of painful
While Germany and greater Europe still grapple with issues of citizenship and nationalism, the building reminds its visitors of a painful past while simultaneously bringing to mind post-Cold War aspirations for political transparency and unity.
—
The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 9 Sep. 2025
Patients often wait until the doctor is standing up to leave before blurting out their real concern, which is typically a sensitive or time-consuming problem, such as wanting to start birth control, having painful periods, or worrying about pregnancy or STDs.
—Dr. Jill Grimes, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2025
King Charles is said to be caught between his two sons in a painful, ongoing family feud.
—Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 8 Sep. 2025
The Panthers finished their final four contests 2-2 in 2024, the final of which was a Bryce Young-Steph Curry crossover episode that made Sunday in Jacksonville all the more painful.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for painful
The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 9 Sep. 2025
Patients often wait until the doctor is standing up to leave before blurting out their real concern, which is typically a sensitive or time-consuming problem, such as wanting to start birth control, having painful periods, or worrying about pregnancy or STDs.
—Dr. Jill Grimes, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2025
King Charles is said to be caught between his two sons in a painful, ongoing family feud.
—Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 8 Sep. 2025
The Panthers finished their final four contests 2-2 in 2024, the final of which was a Bryce Young-Steph Curry crossover episode that made Sunday in Jacksonville all the more painful.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for painful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for painful
Adjective
-
After bandaging the bleeding leg Saturday, Bichette woke up sore Sunday, Schneider said.—
Mitch Bannon,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
-
The federal rollback has disproportionately impacted states like Virginia and Maryland, which are so close to Washington, and have become a sore point for Republicans as voters react negatively to the hiring reductions.—
Rachel Schilke,
The Washington Examiner,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The once-beloved pastels will become harsh.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
6 Sep. 2025
-
The pilgrimage, listed on the official calendar of jubilee events, comes as gay Catholics look to Pope Leo XIV to continue down the bold path of his predecessor to welcome into the church a group that has in the past faced alienation and sometimes harsh treatment.—
Christopher Lamb,
CNN Money,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
In this aching, unorthodox historical drama, Davies tells the story of the pacifist poet and veteran Siegfried Sassoon, whose experiences fighting in the First World War forever transformed him.—
Samantha Bergeson,
IndieWire,
5 Aug. 2025
-
Braxton shares an aching need to be vulnerable only to realize by album’s end that such unions can result in horrible betrayal, her words of lament surrounded by swelling, lush orchestration.—
Clarence A. Haynes
July 3,
Literary Hub,
3 July 2025
Adjective
-
Because of the cruel math of throughput and utilization, over ten days, only three hundred people experienced Blur.—
Charlie Fink,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Tamra was awful to Gretchen back then, culminating in the Naked Wasted Party, which was one of the cruelest things to ever happen on Housewives.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Within the film’s compact running time, writer-director Ben Hania traces the fraught and torturous hours of January 29, 2024, when Palestine Red Crescent volunteers in the West Bank tried to calm a terrified 6-year-old girl and get an ambulance to her in Gaza.—
Sheri Linden,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Sep. 2025
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From the almost humorous to the truly torturous, being plunked into unknown wilderness in total isolation—which is what happens on Alone—results in all manner of strange mental phenomenon.—
Woniya Thibeault,
Outside,
26 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Anyone who has competed on Survivor or any non-live reality competition knows that being humiliated on-camera doesn’t stop at the end of the taping; there’s typically a period of waiting for the actual show to be televised, and that can be almost as excruciating.—
Ben Rosenstock,
Vulture,
27 Aug. 2025
-
Extra canister now, no excruciating diarrhea later.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
23 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Their youngest son, Grayson, can still recall the day his parents reported to their separate facilities — and the agonizing decision of who to accompany.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Sep. 2025
-
To see Gauff and Shelton live through the rollercoaster was agonizing and uplifting at the same time.—
Tim Ellis,
Forbes.com,
31 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Creative differences led to a bitter falling out between Davies and Hodgson, who left the band in 1983.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 Sep. 2025
-
But to have the season’s only returning houseguest exit on a twist like this, and not even from gameplay, social standing or an eviction vote leaves a bitter taste in my mouth, to say the least.—
Nick Caruso,
TVLine,
6 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Painful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/painful. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.
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