Word
hurtful
Phoneticshurt·ful, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈhɝtfəɫ/
UK/hˈɜːtfəl/
Definitions
01causing emotional pain
B1 · Intermediate
adj. describes words or actions that make you feel sad, upset, or insulted.
adj. causing emotional distress, psychological pain, or offense to another person.
“It was very hurtful when he forgot my birthday after I helped him with his.”
“The manager's hurtful comments about her performance were delivered in front of the entire team, causing significant embarrassment.”
Usage
Commonly used to describe remarks, comments, or personal behavior.
Teaching tip
Learners often confuse this with 'painful'; 'hurtful' is almost always emotional, while 'painful' is usually physical.
Antonyms
02causing damage or harm
C1 · Advanced Formal
adj. causing physical harm or damage to something.
adj. tending to cause injury, impairment, or damage to a physical entity or abstract system.
“The new law could be hurtful to small businesses in the city.”
“Environmentalists argued that the proposed dam would be hurtful to the local ecosystem by disrupting natural water flow.”
Usage
In modern English, 'harmful' or 'damaging' is much more common for this sense.
Teaching tip
This sense is less common in modern speech; advise students to use 'harmful' for physical or economic damage.
Antonyms
Etymology
From hurt + -ful.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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