painful

/'peinful/

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Word: Painful

Part of Speech: Adjective

Meaning:

The word "painful" describes something that causes physical discomfort or emotional distress. It is used to express situations, experiences, or sensations that are hard to endure or feel very bad.

Usage Instructions:

• "Painful" is used to describe experiences, feelings, or things that hurt either physically or emotionally.
• It can refer to a wide range of discomforts, from minor annoyances to severe distress.

Examples:

1. Physical Context: "The broken leg was very painful, and I needed crutches to walk."
2. Emotional Context: "The painful memories of her childhood often made her sad."

Advanced Usage:

• "Painful" can also be used in a more metaphorical sense to describe things that are difficult to experience or endure, such as situations or performances.
  • Example: "The painful process of saying goodbye can be very hard for some people."

Word Variants:

• Pain: (noun) the physical or emotional sensation of discomfort.
• Pained: (verb/adjective) to feel or show pain.
• Painfully: (adverb) in a way that causes pain or discomfort.
  • Example: "He painfully admitted his mistakes."

Different Meanings:

1. Physical Pain: Referring to bodily discomfort, like injuries.
2. Emotional Pain: Referring to feelings of sadness, grief, or distress.
3. Displeasing Experiences: Referring to something that is notably bad or disappointing, such as a poor performance or service.

Synonyms:

• Hurtful
• Distressing
• Agonizing
• Unpleasant
• Excruciating

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• "A painful truth": This phrase refers to a truth that is hard to accept but must be acknowledged.

  • Example: "Realizing that he had lost his job was a painful truth for him."

• "Feel the pain": This expression means to understand or empathize with someone’s suffering.

  • Example: "I can feel the pain of those who have lost loved ones."

Conclusion:

Understanding the word "painful" can help you describe both physical sensations and emotional experiences in English.

Academic

Adjective

1. causing physical discomfort; they can be very painful"
   • bites of black flies are more than irritating
2. exceptionally bad or displeasing
   • atrocious taste
   • abominable workmanship
   • an awful voice
   • dreadful manners
   • a painful performance
   • terrible handwriting
   • an unspeakable odor came sweeping into the room
3. causing misery or pain or distress
   • it was a sore trial to him
   • the painful process of growing up
4. causing physical or psychological pain
   • worked with painful slowness

Synonyms

• irritating
• atrocious
• abominable
• awful
• dreadful
• terrible
• unspeakable
• afflictive
• sore