B1adjective1K

Painful

UK /["/ˈpeɪnfl/"]/US /["/ˈpeɪnfl/"]/

Definition

causing you pain

In simple words: Causing physical or emotional hurt.

Examples

  • The injury was so painful that I could barely walk.
  • He experienced a painful breakup that took a long time to heal.
  • It was a painful process to learn how to forgive myself.
  • The surgery left her with a painful scar.
  • His painful memories often resurfaced when he visited his hometown.

Usage notes

Use 'painful' for any physical or emotional discomfort. It's neutral, so suitable in both casual and serious contexts. Avoid using it in overly positive scenarios.

Grammar pattern

Painful + noun

Memory hint

Think of 'pain' and 'full'—a full amount of pain.

Collocations

  • be
  • look
  • seem
  • extremely
  • fairly
  • very
  • to
  • be
  • look
  • seem
  • extremely
  • fairly
  • very
  • to
  • be
  • look
  • seem
  • extremely
  • fairly
  • very
  • to

Synonyms

  • trying

Antonyms

  • painless
  • comfortable
  • easy

Common mistakes

  • Using 'painful' in a positive context, like saying 'it’s a painful experience to enjoy'
  • Confusing with 'painstaking', which means requiring a lot of effort
  • Not using the correct form, like saying 'painfull' instead of 'painful'