PAINS Synonyms: 110 Similar and Opposite Words

pains 1 of 2

noun

plural of pain

as in attention

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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in effort

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

pains

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of pain

as in aches

to feel or cause physical pain my poor head was paining so from all that racket

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 pains

Noun

If 2024 was the growing-pains season, when Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese entered as rookies and were still paid around $75,000, 2025 was defined by impending CBA negotiations. — Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 4 Sep. 2026 West Nile symptoms A full 80% of those infected may not show symptoms, but 20% have flu-like symptoms, such as a fever with headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea, rash or fatigue. — Charlotte Observer, 4 Sep. 2026 Elsinore goes to great pains not to present Charleson as exceedingly simple, either. — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 31 Aug. 2026 In cases that are considered to be too severe — such as when a pregnant woman at the center began experiencing labor pains — those individuals are airlifted to a nearby hospital. — ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026 California has taken pains to eliminate coal as a source of electricity, and this would be the first coal export terminal in California — or anywhere on the West Coast. — Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026 Still, the new Twitter takes great pains to put daylight between itself and the previous iteration of Twitter. — Cyrus Farivar, ArsTechnica, 26 Aug. 2026 This came out in 2012, in that awkward growing-pains stage between the early post-teenybopper rebellion of Can’t Be Tamed and the suffocating culture wars of Bangerz. — Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 25 Aug. 2026 Nielsen has taken great pains to caution that there is no guarantee that ratings gains will accompany these changes, which are being implemented to further improve the accuracy of its data gathering. — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 19 Aug. 2026

Verb

This one pains me as a Roth-era Van Halen fan, but there is no denying the band found incredible radio success with new frontman Sammy Hagar in the fold. — Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 6 May 2026 His disaffection baffles his acquaintances and pains his tubercular wife (a superb Quinn Jackson), whose doctor (Lambert Tamin) has only contempt for her husband’s agonizing. — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2026 But regret pains them like a knot in their shoulders. — Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pains

Noun

Your attention to detail isn’t excessive when the numbers affect your security.

— Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 12 Sep. 2026
The later exposure windows produced more noticeable effects on sleep and next-day performance, including measures of attention, movement and dart-throwing accuracy.

— Ascend Agency, New York Daily News, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of attention

Noun

Russian drones targeted roadside gas stations in Kyiv for a second straight day Friday, as Moscow broadened its air war in what Ukrainian officials say is an effort to rattle civilians.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 12 Sep. 2026
Revenue surges Founded in 2018, Enflame is building AI processors as China looks to boost its efforts in model building amid major capability gains from domestic developers.

— Kai Nicol-Schwarz,Jenny Lee,Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of effort

Verb

West Nile symptoms A full 80% of those infected may not show symptoms, but 20% have flu-like symptoms, such as a fever with headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea, rash or fatigue.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 4 Sep. 2026
Common side effects for flu and COVID-19 vaccines are mild and temporary, such as sore arms, fatigue, headaches, muscle aches, and mild fever.

— ABC News, ABC News, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of aches

Noun

The background of the film is the budget slashes that are happening in this sector all over the Western world, as the government withdraws its own form of care.

— Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026
As the trend scales, expect a wave of clinician response videos and possibly product warnings from foot-care brands.

— Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of care

Noun

The idea that stricter work-search requirements will lead to faster re-employment simply doesn't match the reality of modern hiring.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 8 Sep. 2026
Eight quarterbacks in the final rankings of 2025 are currently on the bench or looking for work, so the quality diluted as injuries mounted.

— Jeff Howe, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of work

Noun

With beads of sweat still streaking down his face, South Carolina coach Shane Beamer happily went over the checklist on his personal notepad after the Gamecocks’ 57-0 season-opening win over Kent State.

— Christopher Kamrani, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
From loungewear essentials like yoga pants and sweats to dressier picks like long-sleeve dresses and maxi skirts, there’s something on sale for everyone.

— Mia Huelsbeck, PEOPLE, 5 Sep. 2026