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Added 9 October 2026

painful

/ˈpeɪn.fl̩/ adjective

In Latin: dolens Wiktionary

adjective Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about painful at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Causing physical or psychological pain.
worked with painful slowness
Causing misery or pain or distress.
it was a sore trial to him
Exceptionally bad or displeasing.
atrocious taste

Origin

From Middle English paynful, peinful, peynful, paynefull, peynefull, equivalent to pain + -ful. Compare Danish pinefuld (“painful”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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