Synonyms for

Painfully

Verb / ˈpeɪnfʌli: / Another word for painfully — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

In a way that causes pain or distress.

Synonyms & similar words

distressingly painlessly sorely agonizingly excruciatingly sorely severely harshly cruelly unbearably intensely vividly poignantly acutely distressingly heartbreakingly tearfully tragically mournfully grievously woefully piteously pathetically

Synonyms by register

Formal

arduously laboriously onerously cumbersomely

Informal

toughly hard tricky difficultly

Literary

woefully grievously achingly

Antonyms

pleasantly comfortably easily smoothly effortlessly joyfully

Common collocations

  • painfully slow
  • painfully obvious
  • painfully awkward
  • painfully honest
  • painfully shy
  • painfully aware
  • painfully bright

Word family

noun pain
verb pain
adjective painful
adverb painfully

Usage note

Often used to emphasize the degree of difficulty or unpleasantness. Can also be used to describe something that is extremely obvious or uncomfortable.

Example sentences

  1. The athlete winced painfully as he crossed the finish line.
  2. My toothache was throbbing painfully.
  3. The girl cried painfully when she fell off her bike.
  4. The burn on my hand stung painfully.
  5. The old man walked painfully with a cane.

Quotes

  • Sometimes pain is so unmanageable that the idea of spending another day with it seems impossible. Other times pain acts as a compass to help you through the messier tunnels of growing up. But pain can only help you find happiness if you remember it.
  • The pain of the mind is worse than the pain of the body.
  • It's painful to be treated like a commodity.

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