painful
causing physical or psychological pain
How often you will meet it
Rank 1,939 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 9,266 times across 173,849 chapters — 0.004% of every word in the library.
What it means
adjective
- causing physical or psychological pain worked with painful slowness
- causing misery or pain or distress also: afflictive, sore it was a sore trial to himthe painful process of growing up
- exceptionally bad or displeasing also: atrocious, abominable, awful, dreadful, terrible, unspeakable atrocious tasteabominable workmanship
- causing physical discomfort also: irritating bites of black flies are more than irritating; they can be very painful
painful in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
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Miss Howard shook hands with a hearty, almost painful, grip.
The Mysterious Affair at Styles · Agatha Christie · Chapter 1
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The most intimate friends of the family were ignorant of its most painful sores.
Other People's Money · Emile Gaboriau · Chapter 1
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However, there was no help for it, and, painful as it was, I had to submit.
The Yellow Fairy Book: The Grateful Beasts · World Traditions (Celtic, Norse, Asian & Persian) · Chapter 1
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She was, with painful astonishment, soon convinced that these were the carcasses of all sorts of insects.
Piccolissima · Adélaïde de Montgolfier · Chapter 1
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Basil continued for a little to glare at the coals, and seemed collecting his thoughts in a humble and even painful way.
The Club of Queer Trades · G. K. (Gilbert Keith) Chesterton · Chapter 1