PAINFUL Synonyms: 90 Similar and Opposite Words

painful

adjective

ˈpān-fəl

Definition of painful

as in sore

causing or feeling bodily pain a very painful toothache her broken arm was too painful for her to go on the trip

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in harsh

hard to accept or bear especially emotionally it's been very painful to accept that my father is gone forever

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 painful Voters from Pennsylvania to California describe painful choices at the pump and grocery store, with many blaming Republicans and shifting toward Democratic candidates in some of the nation’s tightest House and Senate races. — Mike Catalini, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026 The Food and Drug Administration on Thursday approved a new medicine from Roivant and its subsidiary Priovant for the treatment of dermatomyositis, a rare autoimmune disease characterized by muscle weakness and a painful skin rash. — Adam Feuerstein, STAT, 27 Aug. 2026 Kygo's death is particularly painful because the dog was preparing for a major change. — Ivan Taylor, CBS News, 27 Aug. 2026 Part of that is because the process to get a pro bono lawyer can be time-consuming and emotionally draining – calling several different groups, telling a painful story over and over, often only to be told to call someone else. — Andre Mouchard, Oc Register, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for painful

Recent Examples of Synonyms for painful

Adjective

Meanwhile, Mason Black headed back to the minors and Beck Way returned from his rehab assignment (sore shoulder).

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 28 Aug. 2026
But his record of publicly interacting with Piker — including at a pool party just before the primary — remains a sore point among some Michigan Democrats.

— Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of sore

Adjective

Scott London Every year, Black Rock City appears on a dry lakebed in one of Nevada’s harshest areas, then disappears just as fast.

— Jim Dobson, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Hig has bunkered down with a grouchy companion, Bangley (Josh Brolin), who thrives in this harsh world.

— Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of harsh

Adjective

The homestretch of the drama, however, takes the story in a chilling direction, packing an aching quantity of feeling into a single glance at a security camera as someone climbs into a car and leaves the compound, never to be heard from again.

— Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 26 May 2026
Charles Frazier, Cold Mountain (1997) Charles Frazier’s Cold Mountain is an aching, tender slow burn shaped by absence.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 Apr. 2026

Definition of aching

Adjective

Minutes later the finalists will fight to stay on the back of 2,000-pound animals with names like Man Hater and Buck Nasty for eight excruciating seconds, and then dodge the bull's hooves and horns when they're tossed to the ground.

— Christine Lennon, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Aug. 2026
The key to the film is Sinatra’s sense of excruciating resignation.

— Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of excruciating

Adjective

Others are stretched across agonizing stretches of silence while Barrett lets an audience stare into the darkness and imagine every horrible possibility before finally springing the trap.

— Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026
Damage to the remains could complicate evidence The discovery of human remains that set off a firestorm of questions about a possible link to Guthrie developed during an agonizing, monthslong search for the beloved mother.

— Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of agonizing

Adjective

Trump has declined so far to endorse a successor, opting to keep his cards close ahead of what’s likely to be a bitter race.

— Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 29 Aug. 2026
If more than a small portion is green, or the potato smells off, feels soft, or tastes bitter after cooking, discard it.

— Anne Wolf, Martha Stewart, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of bitter

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painful

painfully

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

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Synonyms of painful

adjective

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