1
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
as in aches
to feel or cause physical pain
my poor head was paining so from all that racket
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pains
Hannah Seligson, Vanity Fair, 12 Feb. 2026
The Guy, as Sinclair is known on the show, sells to everyone, stressed-out 20-something assistant and cross-dressing stay-at-home dad alike, witnessing their private joys and pains and shortcomings and judging no one.
—Ezra Marcus, Vulture, 11 Feb. 2026
Rocker went through those pains last year.
—Evan Grant, Dallas Morning News, 11 Feb. 2026
White southerners took great pains to keep track of men and women like Henry Fordham.
—Eugene Robinson, The Atlantic, 3 Feb. 2026
My adolescence was an ordinary one, its joys and pains small.
—Literary Hub, 2 Feb. 2026
Melania takes pains to include many shots of her and Donald acting like a loving couple, which threatens to take the film out of the realm of nonfiction.
—Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 30 Jan. 2026
Shower steamers are also used to ease minor aches and pains and soothe sore muscles.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
Backroads Building and maintaining muscle is an important part of aging well, and there are plenty of travelers who are stronger than ever (even if there are a few more aches and pains) in their 50s and 60s.
—Christine Sarkis, USA Today, 27 Jan. 2026
Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2025
Noun
And not only through month-long vacations and pains au chocolat.
—Hannah Seligson, Vanity Fair, 12 Feb. 2026
The Guy, as Sinclair is known on the show, sells to everyone, stressed-out 20-something assistant and cross-dressing stay-at-home dad alike, witnessing their private joys and pains and shortcomings and judging no one.
—Ezra Marcus, Vulture, 11 Feb. 2026
Rocker went through those pains last year.
—Evan Grant, Dallas Morning News, 11 Feb. 2026
White southerners took great pains to keep track of men and women like Henry Fordham.
—Eugene Robinson, The Atlantic, 3 Feb. 2026
My adolescence was an ordinary one, its joys and pains small.
—Literary Hub, 2 Feb. 2026
Melania takes pains to include many shots of her and Donald acting like a loving couple, which threatens to take the film out of the realm of nonfiction.
—Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 30 Jan. 2026
Shower steamers are also used to ease minor aches and pains and soothe sore muscles.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
Backroads Building and maintaining muscle is an important part of aging well, and there are plenty of travelers who are stronger than ever (even if there are a few more aches and pains) in their 50s and 60s.
—Christine Sarkis, USA Today, 27 Jan. 2026
Verb
But regret pains them like a knot in their shoulders.
—Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pains
Noun
-
Irene and Clint Cleaves opened what was then the Four Way Grill in 1946, a Southern food sanctuary with an integrated clientele and a back door through which Stax musicians sometimes entered to avoid attention.—
Marc Ramirez,
USA Today,
17 Feb. 2026
-
And that notion captured the attention of the public (well, the media), too.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Eco effort To cover all of Inkaterra's eco initiatives would require another article entirely.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Kate Schneider’s hat trick with two goals led a well-balanced effort as Walpole used to down Ursuline 8-4.—
Kristina Banahan,
Boston Herald,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
This loss is unexpected and surreal, and my heart aches… for his family, for his wife, for his children, for his friends, and for all of us who were blessed to know him.—
Christine Imarenezor,
VIBE.com,
15 Jan. 2026
-
This loss is unexpected and surreal and my heart aches… for his family, for his wife, for his children, for his friends, and for all of us who were blessed to know him.—
Michael Saponara,
Billboard,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Child-care fraud in Minnesota is one of many examples, and Minnesota is only one of many states with lax control of welfare spending.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
17 Feb. 2026
-
The survey, which takes about one to two minutes to complete, invites parents and primary caregivers to share their experiences with child care, pediatric and mental health access, cost of living, long commutes and other everyday challenges.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The researchers are hopeful that their work will help advance hydrovoltaic devices that can power battery-free devices using water, heat, and sunlight.—
Ameya Paleja,
Interesting Engineering,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Grillmair’s work had focused on uncovering the structure of the Milky Way, identifying faint stellar streams and substructures that make up the galactic halo surrounding our spiral galaxy, and helping reshape our understanding of how galaxies evolve, according to his website.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
That case also crashed and burned in court and has been seen by critics as another example of an unnecessary prosecution that hurts the DOJ’s accountability image.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
15 Feb. 2026
-
That is a failure of leadership that hurts everyone.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Organizations can benefit by valuing carefulness and concentration not as an obligation, but as a fundamental pillar of success.—
Heather V. MacArthur,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Just as essential a consideration as carefulness for committee members, though, is speed.—
Chris Stirewalt,
The Hill,
26 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Moos wrote that when Frost showed up for a secret interview at a Philadelphia hotel the night before his undefeated UCF team played a road game at Temple, Frost was unshaven and wearing sweats.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 Feb. 2026
-
There are a lot of guns and sweat.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
12 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pains. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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