painful

Definition

  • adjective: causing pain to your body
  • adjective: feeling or giving pain
  • synonyms: toilsome, distressing, disquieting

Examples

  • They made it 'painfully' obvious/clear that we were not welcome. [=they made it very clear in a way that was rude or upsetting that we were not welcome]

  • His ankle is swollen and 'painful to the touch'. [=his ankle hurts if he touches it]

  • After the injury she was 'painfully' aware that her career in tennis would be over.

Movie clips

Movie quotes

  • (..) straight to me. l can mend bones in a heartbeat, but growing them back. . . . You will be able to, won't you? l'll be able to, certainly. But it'll be painful. You're in for a rough night, Potter. Regrowing bones is a nasty business. What do you expect? Pumpkin juice? Hello. Dobby? to Dobby. (..)
    2002 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets