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
Many centrists are seeking a way out of the increasingly painful five-week shutdown even as progressives urge the party to stick to its position of fighting for health care.
—
Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 4 Nov. 2025
The lashing out has been painful.
—Lauren Giella, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
Buffalo presented the Chiefs with a blitz-adverse and coverage-heavy game plan, sending just four rushers at the quarterback, yet still delivered Patrick Mahomes one of the most painful losses of his career.
—Kansas City Star, 3 Nov. 2025
The virus targets the mammary gland's milk-secreting epithelial cells, causing painful infections in the udder.
—Pranjal Malewar, New Atlas, 3 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for painful
Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 4 Nov. 2025
The lashing out has been painful.
—Lauren Giella, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
Buffalo presented the Chiefs with a blitz-adverse and coverage-heavy game plan, sending just four rushers at the quarterback, yet still delivered Patrick Mahomes one of the most painful losses of his career.
—Kansas City Star, 3 Nov. 2025
The virus targets the mammary gland's milk-secreting epithelial cells, causing painful infections in the udder.
—Pranjal Malewar, New Atlas, 3 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for painful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for painful
Adjective
-
Shein’s new brick-and-mortar store—its first in the world—sticks out like a sore thumb.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
7 Nov. 2025
-
The Clippers were missing two-time NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard (ankle) and guard Bradley Beal (sore knee) in a lopsided 126-107 loss to the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder on Tuesday night.—
Janis Carr,
Oc Register,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
There's a lot of harsh words and harsh things that get said about people.—
Ryan Canfield,
FOXNews.com,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Applying it at the base of the plant before the first frost can protect the roots from harsh cold and keep the soil from freezing.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
7 Nov. 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
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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
-
That is unacceptably cruel, corrupt, and undemocratic.—
Brie Stimson,
FOXNews.com,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Instead, she was stripped of her bronze medal after a late score inquiry—a ruling that still feels cruel for an athlete who had delivered the performance of her life.—
Essence,
Essence,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
The earnings report is the first by the company following the August close of the merger of Paramount and Skydance after a long and torturous regulatory process.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Waiting for news was torturous.—
Grace White,
Essence,
29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The voicemail then abruptly turned violent, with McKnight wishing Sheehy an excruciating death.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Longing for my kids to arrive felt excruciating.—
Isobella Jade,
Parents,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
The Cincinnati Bengals have endured agonizing losses over the past two weeks, both falling late in the fourth quarter due to a defense that has struggled to make key stops.—
Cole Sullivan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Nov. 2025
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The agonizing disease disproportionately impacts black and brown people, many of whom don’t live past their 50s and struggle with heart disease, strokes, kidney disease, and joint problems.—
Cara Lynn Shultz,
PEOPLE,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
He was chosen as commissioner in October 1989 over New Orleans general manager Jim Finks after a bitter fight highlighting the differences between the NFL's old guard and newer owners.—
NPR,
NPR,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Arugula Arugula is an aromatic, slightly bitter leafy green.—
Lauren O'Connor,
Health,
9 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Painful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/painful. Accessed 11 Nov. 2025.
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