Words / A2

PAYNFL/ˈpeɪnfl/

Painful means causing pain in the body, or strong sadness: a painful knee, a painful memory, painfully slow (adverb extra). Sore is a close cousin for the body. Pain is the noun. Painkiller is medicine. Do not write painful when you mean careful, or pane (window glass).

Meaning

Causing physical pain, or making you feel very sad or awkward.

Examples

• “My ankle is still painful after the walk.”
• “The injection was quick but a little painful.”
• “It was painful to say goodbye at the airport.”

Good to know

a painful knee / memory. Cousin: sore. Noun: pain. Mix-up: pane.

Near in meaning

sore

New