pained
Wearing a grimace
Pained describes the expression of someone experiencing pain or distress, whether physical or emotional.
A pained look or pained expression suggests discomfort, disappointment, or strained patience: She gave him a pained smile when he told the same joke again.
The word often implies suppressed frustration rather than acute suffering.
Extreme physical or emotional pain
- tormentSevere prolonged suffering
- sufferingSustained experience of distress
- heartacheDeep emotional distress
- despairTotal absence of hope
grief · sorrow · misery · distress · anguished · heartbreak · affliction · woe
Urgent heartfelt request
- hauntedOccupied by ghosts
- woundedHaving sustained harm
- searchingLooking to find
- sorrowfulFilled with grief
agonized · stricken · hurt · troubled · doleful · imploring · accusatory · reproachful
agony
Extreme physical or emotional pain
- tormentSevere prolonged suffering
- sufferingSustained experience of distress
- heartacheDeep emotional distress
despair · grief · sorrow · misery · distress · anguished · heartbreak · affliction · woe · desolation
pleading
Urgent heartfelt request
sorrowful · agonized · stricken · hurt · troubled · doleful · imploring · accusatory · reproachful · mournful
grimace
Twisted expression of displeasure
- winceReflexive recoil from distress
- flinchInvoluntary retreat from threat
- cringeShrink from discomfort
frown · scowl · furrowed · groan · moan · sigh · clench · twitch · contortion · squirm
ache
Persistent dull discomfort
smarting · sting · tender · discomfort · cramp · spasm · stiff · raw · inflamed · sore
- facial expressionssmiling, smile, grin, grinning, frown
- expressionsexpression, I love you, phrase, idioms, thank you
- sadnesssad, unhappy, grief, sorrowful, heartbroken
- in painExperiencing physical distress
- back painPosterior torso discomfort
- chest painDiscomfort in thoracic region
- pain in the neckPersistent source of annoyance
- growing painsDifficulties during early development
- sharp painAcute bodily distress
pain, painful, pains, painless, painfully, painstaking, paining, painlessly, painstakingly