n. 1 hurt, suffering, discomfort, soreness, ache, aching, pang, spasm, smarting, cramp I feel the pain in my back from lifting that box 2 anguish, agony, affliction, distress, grief, woe, suffering, misery, travail, wretchedness, despair, torment, tribulation, trial, torture, dolour, discomposure, ordeal, disquiet No one who has not experienced it can imagine the pain of losing a child 3 irritation, vexation, annoyance, bother, nuisance, pest, Colloq pain in the neck, headache, drag, bore, Taboo slang pain in the Brit arse or US ass What a pain it is that you have forgotten your keys again! David can really be a pain when he goes on about the book he's writing 4 pains. effort, trouble, exertion, toil, labour She went to great pains to make our stay comfortable
v. 5 hurt, distress, grieve, wound, injure; trouble, depress, sadden, sorrow, cut to the quick It pained us to learn of Mrs McArthur's illness