painful

(adjective)

adjective

1. causing physical or psychological pain

- worked with painful slowness

Similar word(s): harmful, inhumane, aching, achy, agonised, agonized, agonising, agonizing, excruciating, harrowing, torturesome, torturing, torturous, biting, bitter, chafed, galled, poignant, itchy, racking, wrenching, raw, sensitive, sore, tender, traumatic

2. causing misery or pain or distress

- the painful process of growing up

Similar word(s): unpleasant, afflictive, sore

3. exceptionally bad or displeasing

- a painful performance

Similar word(s): bad, abominable, atrocious, awful, dreadful, terrible, unspeakable

4. causing physical discomfort

- bites of black flies are more than irritating; they can be very painful

Similar word(s): uncomfortable, irritating