painful
//ˈpeɪn.fl̩//
Forms
- Comparative
- painfuller
- Superlative
- painfullest
Definitions
1.Causing pain or distress, either physical or mental.
- A rackingly painful disease that affects the joints and finally cripples, it is caused by an imbalance of uric acid in the system.
- In a 2008 case report from India, doctors described removing a giant tonsillolith that was making it painful for a young patient to swallow.
2.Afflicted or suffering with pain (of a body part or, formerly, of a person).
- Bee stings can be very painful.
- Any task may become painful.
3.Requiring effort or labor; difficult, laborious.
- Bee stings can be very painful.
- Any task may become painful.
4.Very bad, poor.(informal)
- His violin playing is painful.
Frequency
Overall
Uncommon· #3335
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Rare
- General reading & writing
- Uncommon
- Academic
- Rare
- Literature
- Rare
Related words
Word family
Etymology
From Middle English paynful, peinful, peynful, paynefull, peynefull, equivalent to pain + -ful.
Compare Danish pinefuld (“painful”).