pains 1 of 2

noun

plural of pain
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

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
Each song serves as a reflection of the journey she's been through over the past few years, exploring her mindset shifts, trials, pains and growth. — Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 1 July 2026 Bezos has been at pains to correct assumptions about what Prometheus actually does. — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 17 June 2026 There have been teething pains with Neutron, however, including engine failures and structural test anomalies. — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 29 June 2026 The colors, pains, pleasures, smells, tastes and sounds, the what-it’s-like of being conscious, are not private inner bits and blobs that philosophers call qualia, floating in a theatre of the mind. — Andréa Morris, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026 Having witnessed centuries of religious warfare in Europe, when millions were killed for their beliefs, the framers took pains to make sure nothing like that would happen here. — Kenneth Seeskin, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026 Perhaps second only to getting sunburned through your favorite white dress, the greatest casualty of summer fashion is the aches and pains brought on by your cutest but least supportive shoes. — Annie Blackman, InStyle, 4 July 2026 My colleague Susan King wrote a profile of Blyth in 2013, taking pains to separate the woman from the character. — Deputy Managing Editor, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026 The 74-year-old Weinstein, meanwhile, reported chest pains during jury deliberations in the most recent trial, spurring another early end to court. — ABC News, 25 June 2026
Verb
But regret pains them like a knot in their shoulders. — Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2025 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pains
  1. attention
  2. effort
  3. aches
  4. care
  5. work
  6. hurts
  7. carefulness
  8. sweat
Noun
  • In June 2024, Kelce and Swift were at the center of worldwide attention, even though their relationship wasn’t even a year old.
    — Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 4 July 2026
  • The retro ensemble caught the attention of fans and press everywhere.
    — Morgan Evans, USA Today, 4 July 2026
Definition of attention
Noun
  • But the effort was set aside after the onset of COVID-19, which caused massive disruptions across the Los Angeles Unified School District, said Michael Trujillo, a political strategist for Gonez.
    — Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026
  • Both countries have stepped up efforts to safeguard freedom of navigation and uphold international law in the strait, including hosting a summit with 51 other nations in April.
    — Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 4 July 2026
Definition of effort
Verb
  • Symptoms include fever, headache, body aches, vomiting, diarrhea or rash, according to the CDC.
    — Youri Benadjaoud, ABC News, 1 July 2026
  • Some people also experience body aches, headache or vomiting.
    — Paula Wethington, CBS News, 1 July 2026
Definition of aches
Noun
  • The government sets prices One basic reason why doctors earn a lot is that medical care costs a lot, researchers say.
    — Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 5 July 2026
  • Talat’s mocktails display the same thoughtfulness, intention and care as the food.
    — Blair Crosby, AJC.com, 5 July 2026
Definition of care
Noun
  • But when menstrual symptoms become severe enough to interfere with work, school, relationships or daily activities, something more serious may be going on.
    — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 7 July 2026
  • Oh, and hundreds of her works fill the screen, a magnificent and vibrant tour through her glorious career.
    — Stuart Miller, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
Definition of work
Verb
  • Advertisement Losing your leading World Cup goalscorer hurts, especially against a Belgian side that, despite its shaky moments at this tournament, is still stocked with talent.
    — Sean Gregory, Time, 2 July 2026
  • The practice is anti-competitive and hurts consumers, antitrust experts say.
    — Audrey McGlinchy, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
Definition of hurts
Noun
  • This carefulness is clearly strategic.
    — Gary Sernovitz, New Yorker, 15 June 2026
  • There was no carefulness in it.
    — Zack Meisel, New York Times, 1 May 2026
Definition of carefulness
Noun
  • The combination of heat and high humidity feels insufferable and dangerous because the human body can't cool off as effectively when sweat stays on the skin.
    — Kiki Intarasuwan, CBS News, 1 July 2026
  • Foad adds that the idea of eliminating toxins comes from sweat washing away trace amounts of heavy metals from the skin, rather than flushing toxins from inside the body.
    — Alexandra Frost, USA Today, 1 July 2026
Definition of sweat

Browse Nearby Words

painlessly
pains
pains in the neck
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Cite this Entry

“Pains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pains. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on pains

Nglish: Translation of pains for Spanish Speakers

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