/ ˈpeɪnfl; NAmE / adjective
1.
causing you pain :
Is your back still painful?
a painful death
My ankle is still too painful to walk on.
2.
painful (for sb) (to do sth) | painful (doing sth) causing you to feel upset or embarrassed :
a painful experience / memory
Their efforts were painful to watch.
3.
unpleasant or difficult to do
SYN trying :
Applying for jobs can be a long and painful process.
••
SYNONYMS
painful
sore ♦ raw ♦ excruciating ♦ burning
These words all describe sth that causes you physical pain.
painful
causing you physical pain.
NOTE
Painful can describe a part of the body, illness, injury, treatment or death:
Is your knee still painful?
•
a series of painful injections
•
a slow and painful death
sore
(of a part of the body) painful and often red, especially because of infection or because a muscle has been used too much:
a sore throat
•
Their feet were sore after hours of walking.
raw
(of a part of the body) red and painful, for example because of an infection or because the skin has been damaged:
The skin on her feet had been rubbed raw.
excruciating
extremely painful.
NOTE
Excruciating can describe feelings, treatments or death but not parts of the body: an excruciating throat / back / knee .
burning
painful and giving a feeling of being very hot:
She felt a burning sensation in her throat.
PATTERNS AND COLLOCATIONS :
painful / sore / raw skin
painful / sore eyes
a sore throat
a painful / an excruciating death / procedure
a painful / burning sensation
excruciating / burning pain
really / pretty / quite painful / sore / raw / excruciating
very / extremely / slightly / a bit / a little painful / sore / raw