Word
painfully
Phoneticspainful·ly
US/ˈpeɪnfəɫi/
UK/pˈeɪnfəli/
Adverb of degree
Definitions
01causing physical pain
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adv. in a way that causes physical pain or shows that someone is hurting.
adv. in a manner that inflicts or manifests physical suffering.
“He moved painfully across the room after his leg surgery.”
“The athlete limped painfully toward the sidelines, clutching his hamstring while the trainers rushed to assist him.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
02extremely and uncomfortably
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adv. used to emphasize that something is very slow, difficult, or embarrassing.
adv. to an extreme and distressing degree; often used to modify adjectives describing slowness, honesty, or social awkwardness.
“The progress on the new road was painfully slow for the local drivers.”
“The silence in the boardroom was painfully awkward after the CEO dismissed the proposal without a second thought.”
Synonyms
03very badly
C1 · Advanced Informal
adv. in a way that is very poor or of low quality.
adv. used to describe a performance or situation that is remarkably poor or inadequate.
“The play was painfully acted, and many people left before the end.”
“The presentation was painfully delivered, lacking both the necessary data and any sense of professional engagement with the audience.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
Real-World Examples
“When I pick up a violin, I am painfully aware of how far backwards I have slipped.” “Painfully shy, she preferred making up stories about her paper dolls to playing with other children.” Etymology
From Middle English peinfully, paynefully, equivalent to painful + -ly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- 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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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