painful
pronunciation
How to pronounce painful in British English:
UK [ˈpeɪnfl]
How to pronounce painful in American English:
US [ˈpeɪnfl]
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- Adjective:
- causing physical or psychological pain
- causing misery or pain or distress
- exceptionally bad or displeasing
- causing physical discomfort
Word Origin
- painful (adj.)
- mid-14c., from pain (n.) + -ful. Related: Painfully; painfulness.
Example
- 1. Efforts to curb inflation in china are having some painful side-effects .
- 2. But even measured against japan 's painful history , its plight today is miserable .
- 3. The volunteers can stop the heat the moment it becomes painful .
- 4. But americans will not be told how painful things must become .
- 5. By then , he will have made plenty of gestures , such as taxing business and the rich , that afford him cover for broader and more painful measures .