painful

adjective

pain·​ful ˈpān-fəl How to pronounce painful (audio)
painfuller ˈpān-fə-lər How to pronounce painful (audio) ; painfullest
Synonyms of painfulnext
1
a
: feeling or giving pain
a painful injury
b
: irksome, annoying
2
: requiring effort or exertion
a long painful trip
3
archaic : careful, diligent
painfully
ˈpān-f(ə-)lē How to pronounce painful (audio)
adverb
painfulness
ˈpān-fəl-nəs How to pronounce painful (audio)
noun

Synonyms of painful

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Examples of painful in a Sentence

I got a painful sunburn. We can't ignore our country's painful history of slavery. His questions brought up a lot of painful memories. It was painful to watch.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Those criticizing the exhibition were New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin, who called the decision deeply painful for Jewish New Yorkers. — Andrew Silow-Carroll, Sun Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2026 Djokovic made 70 unforced errors in a painful performance that ended mere minutes before midnight. — Stephen Whyno, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026 Nolan’s loss has been especially painful to Moore because the 18-year-old had been doing everything right, the coach said. — Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026 Its absence does not make the eventual adjustment less painful. — Michael Pettis, Foreign Affairs, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for painful

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of painful was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing painful

Rhymes for painful

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Browse Nearby Words

pained
painful
painful to the touch
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Cite this Entry

“Painful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/painful. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

painful

adjective
pain·​ful ˈpān-fəl How to pronounce painful (audio)
: feeling or giving pain
painfully
-f(ə-)lē How to pronounce painful (audio)
adverb
painfulness
-fəl-nəs How to pronounce painful (audio)
noun

Medical Definition

painful

adjective
pain·​ful ˈpān-fəl How to pronounce painful (audio)
painfuller -fə-lər How to pronounce painful (audio) ; painfullest
: feeling or giving pain
painfully
-f(ə-)lē How to pronounce painful (audio)
adverb
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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