English Dictionary
Definition painful in British English
painful
adjective
What are red words?
Around 90% of spoken and written English relies on just 7,500 common words.
These words are highlighted in red and are ranked using a star system.
- One-star words are commonly used
- Two-star words are even more common
- Three-star words are the most frequently used
adjective
What are red words?
Around 90% of spoken and written English relies on just 7,500 common words.These words are highlighted in red and are ranked using a star system.
- One-star words are commonly used
- Two-star words are even more common
- Three-star words are the most frequently used
/ˈpeɪnf(ə)l/
Example
His autobiography recounts the unique and painful experience of imprisonment.
Example
The loss of her husband to cancer was unbearably painful.
Synonyms and related words
3
done so badly that you feel embarrassed
Example
His performance was painful to watch.
Synonyms and related words
