Top synonyms for “painful”: abominable, afflictive, atrocious, awful, dreadful, irritating, sore, terrible, and 29 more below.
Definitions
- (adjective)causing physical discomfort“bites of black flies are more than irritating; they can be very painful”
- (adjective)exceptionally bad or displeasing“atrocious taste”
- (adjective)causing physical or psychological pain“worked with painful slowness”
- (adjective)causing misery or pain or distress“it was a sore trial to him”
Definitions sourced from Princeton WordNet (BSD license).
All synonyms for Painful
Adjectives (37)
Antonyms — opposite of Painful
Keep writing with Painful
Frequently Asked Questions
What is another word for "painful"?
Common synonyms for "painful" include abominable, afflictive, atrocious, awful, dreadful, irritating. Our thesaurus lists 37 total alternatives drawn from Princeton WordNet. Click any synonym to find its rhymes.
What is the opposite of "painful"?
Antonyms for "painful" include painless. Use opposites in songwriting to create contrast, tension, or surprise within a verse.
What does "painful" mean?
causing physical discomfort Example: "bites of black flies are more than irritating; they can be very painful"
How do I use synonyms when writing lyrics?
Synonyms give you more options to match syllable counts, meter, and rhyme schemes. When a word fits the meaning but not the rhythm, swap in a synonym with a different syllable count. Click any synonym above to jump straight to its rhyme page and continue writing.
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