Painful meaning

What does “painful” mean? Definitions, examples, synonyms and opposites.

“painful” is an adjective with 4 meanings. Its most common meaning is: causing physical or psychological pain.

painful

causing physical or psychological pain
“worked with painful slowness”
Oppositespainless
causing misery or pain or distress
“it was a sore trial to him”
“the painful process of growing up”
Synonymsafflictive sore
exceptionally bad or displeasing
“atrocious taste”
“abominable workmanship”
Synonymsatrocious abominable awful dreadful terrible unspeakable
causing physical discomfort
“bites of black flies are more than irritating; they can be very painful”
Synonymsirritating

Source: WordNet 3.1, Princeton University