painful
Causing physical distress
Painful describes what causes or involves pain.
Physical pain: a painful injury, painful surgery.
Emotional pain: a painful memory, painful breakup.
The word extends to difficult or laborious experiences: a painful conversation, painfully slow progress.
Something painfully obvious is so clear it almost hurts to acknowledge.
Coiled, or an injury
- bruiseDiscolored tissue injury
- cutSeverance or reduction
- lacerationTorn, ragged wound
- fractureSplit in hard material
burn · scrape · gash · sprain · strain · abrasion · blister · lesion
Deep emotional distress
- griefIntense sorrow from loss
- sorrowDeep emotional distress
- anguishIntense mental suffering
- heartbreakCrushing emotional pain
despair · agony · torment · misery · sadness · loneliness · regret · guilt
Persistent dull discomfort
- throbBeat with intensity
- sorenessTender, painful sensation
- tendernessGentle, caring quality
- discomfortMild physical or mental distress
stiffness · cramp · spasm · twinge · inflammation · swelling · numbness · burning
Causing extreme suffering
- agonizingIntensely painful or distressing
- unbearableImpossible to endure
- severeExtremely harsh or strict
- acuteIntensely severe or perceptive
piercing · searing · throbbing · stabbing · torturous · debilitating · crippling · splitting
Lacking grace or ease
- uncomfortableCausing unease or distress
- embarrassingCausing awkward self-consciousness
- cringeShrink from discomfort
- unpleasantCausing discomfort or distaste
distressing · upsetting · trying · ordeal · harrowing · grueling · taxing · laborious
wound
Coiled, or an injury
- bruiseDiscolored tissue injury
- cutSeverance or reduction
- lacerationTorn, ragged wound
fracture · burn · scrape · gash · sprain · strain · abrasion · blister · lesion · contusion
heartache
Deep emotional distress
heartbreak · despair · agony · torment · misery · sadness · loneliness · regret · guilt · shame
ache
Persistent dull discomfort
- throbBeat with intensity
- sorenessTender, painful sensation
- tendernessGentle, caring quality
discomfort · stiffness · cramp · spasm · twinge · inflammation · swelling · numbness · burning · stinging
excruciating
Causing extreme suffering
- agonizingIntensely painful or distressing
- unbearableImpossible to endure
- severeExtremely harsh or strict
acute · piercing · searing · throbbing · stabbing · torturous · debilitating · crippling · splitting · blinding
awkward
Lacking grace or ease
- uncomfortableCausing unease or distress
- embarrassingCausing awkward self-consciousness
- cringeShrink from discomfort
unpleasant · distressing · upsetting · trying · ordeal · harrowing · grueling · taxing · laborious · tedious
painfulpainless
Causing no discomfort
pain-free · comfortable · soothing · pleasurable · pleasant
painfulpleasurable
Causing positive feelings
pleasant · delightful · gratifying · pleasing · enjoyable
painfuleasy
Requiring minimal effort
effortless · painless · simple · smooth · straightforward
- painful memories
- painful truthFact that hurts
- painful sore
- painful biteInjurious puncture from teeth
- most painful
- painful periodsMenstrual cycle discomfort