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.
The arachnids, jet black with a dash of red, cultivate a powerful venom that can be painful to humans. — Yasemin Saplakoglu, Quanta Magazine, 28 Oct. 2026 If Kylian Mbappe endured a painful evening watching Harry Kane pip him to Ballon d’Or glory in London on Monday, the headlines that greeted him the following morning will have done little to improve his mood. — Tom Williams, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2026 With that in mind, Ultron pushes Thomas to face painful truths about his insecurities over his deadbeat dad and his hunger for Vision’s fatherly love. — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 28 Oct. 2026 This condition can be painful and visibly disfiguring for people impacted. — ABC News, 28 Oct. 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 1 Nov. 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
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