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
Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Aug. 2025
The most common over-the-counter pain medication used during pregnancy may be linked to autism spectrum disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorders, or ADHD, in children, according to a new study.
—Adrianna Rodriguez, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2025
Maggie Menderski, The Courier-Journal, 2 July 2025
Like his old friend Zora, Duncan is still pained by a tragic family loss; the two of them pull a crafty move to get Krebs to bump up Duncan’s fee.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 30 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for pain
Noun
Antihistamines can ease itching, while ibuprofen or acetaminophen help manage pain.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Aug. 2025
The most common over-the-counter pain medication used during pregnancy may be linked to autism spectrum disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorders, or ADHD, in children, according to a new study.
—Adrianna Rodriguez, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2025
Verb
One of the cost-saving measures that pained both performers and fans that year was opting to perform the iconic holiday show without the live performance by the Louisville Orchestra.
—Maggie Menderski, The Courier-Journal, 2 July 2025
Like his old friend Zora, Duncan is still pained by a tragic family loss; the two of them pull a crafty move to get Krebs to bump up Duncan’s fee.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 30 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for pain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pain
Noun
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Symptoms of the disease can include cough, fever, chills, muscle aches, shortness of breath, headaches, fatigue, loss of appetite, confusion or diarrhea.—
David Matthews,
New York Daily News,
22 Aug. 2025
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As a severe form of pneumonia, symptoms include fever, chills, muscle aches and cough, city health officials said.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
21 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Crew members searched the area where the vessel was seen and continued looking for signs of distress, officials said.—
Paloma Chavez
August 19,
Sacbee.com,
19 Aug. 2025
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Attorneys leading the cases say the app’s failure to protect sensitive data has caused emotional distress, harassment and potential identity theft for users, and could have catastrophic consequences for the company.—
Nour Rahal,
Freep.com,
19 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Through it all, the mission has stayed constant: environmental stewardship and community care.—
Lyssanoel Frater,
USA Today,
19 Aug. 2025
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But Black parents have had to quit or pass up a job twice as often as white parents due to child care complications.—
Theodore A. Moore,
New York Daily News,
19 Aug. 2025
Noun
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All leaders—from new managers to seasoned executives—must delegate tasks to free up time and attention for the big-picture work their more-senior roles demand.—
Harvard Business Review,
Harvard Business Review,
24 Aug. 2025
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The challenging program included works by Schumann, Wagner, and Richard Strauss.—
Eli Amdur,
Forbes.com,
24 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Weaver, the California waterfowl coordinator, said others were likely brought in the past few years to chase away Canada geese that have increasingly become a nuisance at parks and golf courses.—
CalMatters,
Mercury News,
14 Aug. 2025
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The presence of drones has caused alarm in communities—and the buzzing noise has sometimes become a nuisance.—
Jessica Mathews,
Fortune,
6 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Investigators say the woman driving the Traverse suffered minor injuries, but the drivers of the other two vehicles were not hurt, officials said.—
Mark Price,
Miami Herald,
25 Aug. 2025
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The alcohol measure was tied to the percentage of residents who reported at least occasional heavy or binge drinking, and this measure also hurt Arizona.—
Russ Wiles,
AZCentral.com,
25 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Even now, as EY’s global blockchain leader, Brody remembers feeling a pang of envy.—
MacKenzie Sigalos,
CNBC,
2 Aug. 2025
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Now that the hunger pangs have started, here are some National Bagel Day deals to consider.—
Alexis Simmerman,
Austin American Statesman,
2 July 2025
Noun
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For many, the relationship with tequila ended in their early 20s with promises made to some dormitory deity — often made of porcelain — to end a miserable night’s agony.—
Todd Harmonson,
Oc Register,
4 Aug. 2025
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My wing-scarfing strategy was to plow through as many as possible before the agony set in, then survive the remainder without committing the day-ruining error of touching my eyes.—
Bradley Hohulin,
IndyStar,
2 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pain. Accessed 1 Sep. 2025.
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