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Definition of painfully
painfully
/ˈpeɪn.fə.li/
pain · ful · ly
Adjective:painful
painfully Lexical Profile
CEFR
B1
Grade
4
Tier
2
Usage
Top 5k
Syllables
3
painfully Game Scores & Validity
Scrabble US
Scrabble UK
WWF
Wordle Guess
• adverb
1
In a manner that causes or involves physical or emotional pain, distress, or suffering.
Example
"He walked painfully down the stairs after spraining his ankle during the marathon."
2
To an extreme, distressing, or uncomfortably noticeable degree.
Example
"It quickly became painfully obvious that neither negotiator had read the updated contract."
Synonyms
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Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Painfully. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/painfully