Painful refers to causing physical discomfort, distress or suffering, often due to an injury or illness. It can also refer to causing emotional or mental distress, upset, or unhappiness, often tied to a distressing …

5 days ago · Adjective painful (comparative painfuller or more painful, superlative painfullest or most painful) Causing pain or distress, either physical or mental. [from 14th c.] Synonyms: excruciating, …

PAINFUL meaning: 1. causing emotional or physical pain: 2. If something is painful to watch or listen to, it is so…. Learn more.

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Learn the meaning of Painful with clear definitions and helpful usage examples.

Anything painful hurts a lot — either physically or emotionally. Your sprained ankle may be painful, but so is your broken heart. When something is physically painful, it hurts your body in some way, like a …

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025 pain•ful (pān′ fəl), adj. affected with, causing, or characterized by pain: a painful wound; a painful night; a painful …

Definition of painful adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

Define painful. painful synonyms, painful pronunciation, painful translation, English dictionary definition of painful. adj. 1. Full of or giving pain: a painful shoulder; painful walking.

If something such as an illness, injury, or operation is painful, it causes you a lot of physical pain. .a painful back injury. Sunburn is painful and potentially dangerous.

Define painful. painful synonyms, painful pronunciation, painful translation, English dictionary definition of painful. adj. 1. Full of or giving pain: a painful shoulder; painful walking.

If something such as an illness, injury, or operation is painful, it causes you a lot of physical pain. .a painful back injury. Sunburn is painful and potentially dangerous.

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