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
Aisha Alves, Rolling Stone, 15 May 2026
Maddison came on midway through the second half against Newcastle but lasted 10 minutes before dropping to the floor in pain.
—Jay Harris, New York Times, 15 May 2026
Literary Hub, 31 Mar. 2026
But the record is far less gothic than its predecessor, less obviously pained.
—Ben Cardew, Pitchfork, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pain
Noun
In a study of more than 5,000 midlife women presented by researchers affiliated with The Menopause Society, over 40 percent reported having used cannabis recreationally or therapeutically, often citing sleep issues, anxiety, stress or chronic pain as motivating factors.
—Aisha Alves, Rolling Stone, 15 May 2026
Maddison came on midway through the second half against Newcastle but lasted 10 minutes before dropping to the floor in pain.
—Jay Harris, New York Times, 15 May 2026
Verb
Today, mindful of the most recent wars, mindful of all the atrocities com-mitted, this happy fantasy has lost its charm, death has lost its innocence, pain its magnitude, irreversible.
—Literary Hub, 31 Mar. 2026
But the record is far less gothic than its predecessor, less obviously pained.
—Ben Cardew, Pitchfork, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pain
Noun
-
Among the symptoms people reported were gastrointestinal illness, fever, general malaise, pneumonia, fatigue, aches and respiratory symptoms.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
-
The man sought medical care twice — first with a fever, muscle aches, chills, headache and fatigue, then with vomiting and diarrhea.—
Aria Bendix,
NBC news,
12 May 2026
Noun
-
Interfering with a fawn is discouraged; observe from a distance and contact wildlife professionals only if the fawn shows signs of injury, distress, or the mother's prolonged absence.—
Cody Godwin,
USA Today,
13 May 2026
-
There is tap-dancing, a wall that resembles the night sky, a prop headband that resembles a Plumbob, and the discovery that every actor onstage can imitate the animation a Sim does while in distress.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
It’s rooted in the principle of taking care of what’s provided to us — and using it thoughtfully to make people’s lives better.—
Sammy Duda,
The Orlando Sentinel,
12 May 2026
-
Emory University confirmed in a statement that its Serious Communicable Diseases Unit is overseeing the two individuals' care.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
12 May 2026
Noun
-
The offense needs a lot of work, and Monken, who has 11 years of NFL offensive coaching experience (though never as a head coach), is tasked with fixing it.—
Saad Yousuf,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
-
The new ranch comes with a coffee-drinking porch (mandatory), but it is weathered, rustic and needs work.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
The hotel is on a block next to a major road, but the noise is more of a distant city hum than a nuisance.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
14 May 2026
-
Sargassum has become an increasingly expensive nuisance for coastal communities, and as blooms become larger due to warming water temperatures because of climate change and fertilizer run off providing blooms with endless nutrients, the problem will continue to mushroom.—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
But second-year point guard Carla Leite, who had hurt her ankle earlier in the evening, blew by Jones in isolation to tie the score 96-96 with 27 seconds to play.—
Sabreena Merchant,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
-
Qi Wang Chief Investment Officer (Wealth Management) Additionally, Taiwan and Korea are large energy importers, meaning higher oil prices from Middle East tensions could hurt their purchasing power and international competitiveness, even as AI demand boosts exports.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
12 May 2026
Noun
-
Down to the volatile sound design and pangs of romantic yearning, to say nothing of the first-person cinematography lensed by Dhont regular Frank van den Eeden, this movie follows Pierre’s every move from the inside out.—
David Canfield,
HollywoodReporter,
12 May 2026
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Help keep your hunger pangs at bay while on a road trip or at the office with this multi-pack of trail mixes.—
Michele Laufik,
Martha Stewart,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
Kirby, screaming in agony, was on his knees as officers ordered him to drop a knife, according to video.—
David K. Li,
NBC news,
15 May 2026
-
The sight of a heart-and-soul player in agony on the ice, then being helped off it — by captain Marie-Philip Poulin, Stacey’s wife — was a shock.—
Hailey Salvian,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pain. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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