exceptionally bad or displeasing; "atrocious taste"; "abominable workmanship"; "an awful voice"; "dreadful manners"; "a painful performance"; "terrible handwriting"; "an unspeakable odor came sweeping into the room"
Situations, memories, or experiences that are painful are difficult and unpleasant to deal with, and often make you feel sad and upset. Remarks like that brought back painful memories She finds it too painful to return there without him. + painfully pain·ful·ly their old relationship, which he had painfully broken off
If something such as an illness, injury, or operation is painful, it causes you a lot of physical pain. a painful back injury + painfully pain·ful·ly He cracked his head painfully against the cupboard
Requiring labor or toil; difficult; executed with laborious effort; as a painful service; a painful march; painstaking; careful; industrious
If a part of your body is painful, it hurts because it is injured or because there is something wrong with it. Her glands were swollen and painful + painfully pain·ful·ly His tooth had started to throb painfully again
Full of pain; causing uneasiness or distress, either physical or mental; afflictive; disquieting; distressing
Full of pain; causing hurt, uneasiness or distress, either physical or mental; afflictive; disquieting; distressing
causing misery or pain or distress; "it was a sore trial to him"; "the painful process of growing up"
causing physical discomfort; "bites of black flies are more than irritating; they can be very painful"
Requiring labor or toil; difficult; executed with laborious effort; as a painful service; a painful march
If a performance or interview is painful, it is so bad that it makes you feel embarrassed for the people taking part in it. The interview was painful to watch