Search Dictionary
Definition of painful

painful

/ˈpeɪn.fəl/
pain · ful
Adverb:painfully
JUMP TO:

painful Lexical Profile

painful Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Causing or affected by physical pain or bodily discomfort.

Example

"The physical therapist recommended gentle stretching to relieve her painful lower back."

2

Causing emotional distress, grief, or mental suffering.

Example

"Sorting through her late grandmother's belongings brought back many painful memories."

3

Tediously difficult, awkward, or unpleasant to experience or witness.

Example

"The speaker's lack of preparation made the hour-long presentation painful to watch."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for painful
Antonyms
View all antonyms for painful

• Rhymes for painful

• Nearby Words

pailful
pain
pained
painful
painfully
painfulness
painkiller

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in Middle English as 'peinful', combining the noun 'pain' (from Old French 'peine', ultimately from Latin 'poena' meaning penalty or punishment) with the native suffix '-ful'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Painful. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/painful
Built for writers, students, and competitive word game players, Wordmom combines an uncluttered English dictionary and thesaurus with fast, pattern-based word finders so you can verify definitions, synonyms, and high-scoring tile plays in one place.
Word Games & Solvers
Word FinderScrabble Word FinderWords With Friends CheatWordle SolverAnagram Solver
Dictionary & Reference
DictionarySynonymsAntonymsWords
Community
Contact UsEditorial PolicyPrivacy PolicyTerms and Conditions
© 2016–2026 Wordmom Network. All rights reserved. Made with for word lovers everywhere.
Disclaimer: SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A. and Canada by Hasbro Inc., and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro. Words With Friends® is a registered trademark of Zynga Inc. Wordle® is a registered trademark of The New York Times Company. Other referenced game titles and tournament lexicon codes (including NASPA NWL and WESPA/HarperCollins CSW) are trademarks of their respective owners. Wordmom is an independent reference utility for educational and entertainment purposes and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Hasbro, Mattel, Spear, Zynga, The New York Times Company, NASPA, WESPA, or HarperCollins Publishers. All game names are referenced strictly under nominative fair use to indicate compatibility.