| / English Dictionary |
PAINFUL
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (adjective)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Causing physical discomfort
Example:
bites of black flies are more than irritating; they can be very painful
Synonyms:
Classified under:
Similar:
uncomfortable (providing or experiencing physical discomfort)
Derivation:
painfulness (the quality of being painful)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Exceptionally bad or displeasing
Example:
an unspeakable odor came sweeping into the room
Synonyms:
abominable; atrocious; awful; dreadful; painful; terrible; unspeakable
Classified under:
Similar:
bad (having undesirable or negative qualities)
Sense 3
Meaning:
Causing physical or psychological pain
Example:
worked with painful slowness
Classified under:
Adjectives
Similar:
aching; achy (causing a dull and steady pain)
agonised; agonized (expressing pain or agony)
agonising; agonizing; excruciating; harrowing; torturesome; torturing; torturous (extremely painful)
biting; bitter (causing a sharply painful or stinging sensation; used especially of cold)
chafed; galled (painful from having the skin abraded)
poignant (keenly distressing to the mind or feelings)
itchy (causing an irritating cutaneous sensation; being affect with an itch)
racking; wrenching (causing great physical or mental suffering)
saddle-sore ((of a rider) sore after riding a horse)
raw; sensitive; sore; tender (hurting)
traumatic (psychologically painful)
Also:
harmful (causing or capable of causing harm)
inhumane (lacking and reflecting lack of pity or compassion)
Antonym:
painless (not causing physical or psychological pain)
Derivation:
painfulness (the quality of being painful)
painfulness (emotional distress; a fundamental feeling that people try to avoid)
Sense 4
Meaning:
Causing misery or pain or distress
Example:
the painful process of growing up
Synonyms:
afflictive; painful; sore
Classified under:
Adjectives
Similar:
unpleasant (offensive or disagreeable; causing discomfort or unhappiness)
Derivation:
painfulness (emotional distress; a fundamental feeling that people try to avoid)
Context examples:
Again, as he kissed me, painful thoughts darkened his aspect.
(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)
It will be more painful to me in some respects to be in company with him, but I shall know better what to do.
(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)
I was deeply sorry to have touched on such a painful theme, but that was useless now.
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
Common in Africa, Buruli ulcers start as painful skin swellings.
(New answer to MRSA, other 'superbug' infections: clay minerals?, NSF)
The researchers tested rats for increased sensitivity to non-painful stimulation following a sciatic nerve injury or sham surgery.
(Opioid Pain Relievers May Prolong Pain, NIH)
Painful sensation in the upper or lower extremities.
(Pain in Extremity, NCI Thesaurus)
A question about whether an individual has or had a painful ache in their mouth due to problems with teeth, denture or mouth.
(Painful Ache in Mouth due Problem with Teeth, Denture or Mouth, NCI Thesaurus)
Signs and symptoms include swelling and pain of the eyelids, pain in the eye, painful eye movements, decreased vision, and fever.
(Orbital Cellulitis, NCI Thesaurus)
Painful sensation in the mouth, tongue, or lips.
(Oral Pain, NCI Thesaurus)
A disorder characterized by intense painful sensation along a nerve or group of nerves.
(Neuralgia, NCI Thesaurus/CTCAE)
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