painful meaning and definition

PAINFUL adjective

Definition of painful (adjective)

1. causing physical or psychological pain
   • "worked with painful slowness"
   • antonym: painless
2. causing misery or pain or distress
   • "it was a sore trial to him"; "the painful process of growing up"
   • synonyms: afflictive, sore
3. 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"
   • synonyms: abominable, atrocious, awful, dreadful, terrible, unspeakable
4. causing physical discomfort
   • "bites of black flies are more than irritating; they can be very painful"
   • synonyms: irritating