1
as in ache
a sharp unpleasant sensation usually felt in some specific part of the body
the child was crying because of a pain in her knee
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in distress
a state of great suffering of body or mind
a sprained ankle caused him great pain for a week
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in care
pains plural
strict attentiveness to what one is doing
asked the movers to take pains to be sure that they didn't damage anything while moving the furniture
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in work
pains plural
the active use of energy in producing a result
she was at pains to reassure us that everything would be fine
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in nuisance
one who is obnoxiously annoying
sometimes that child, who apparently never tires of asking questions, can be such a pain
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of pain
Erica Sloan, SELF, 25 Apr. 2025
The pain and his missing presence doesn't get easier or better.
—Saleen Martin, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2025
Guy Lodge, Variety, 6 Feb. 2025
Fans of football surely are both thrilled and pained at this matchup.
—Hannah Vanbiber, The Athletic, 14 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pain
Noun
But regardless, less pain is…less pain, and future research could still uncover new reasons for that.
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 25 Apr. 2025
The pain and his missing presence doesn't get easier or better.
—Saleen Martin, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2025
Verb
An idiosyncratic personal reckoning with the recent death of his mother that gradually expands to take in the perspectives of his kith and kin, the film has the busy, varied emotional intensity of many a family gathering: pained one minute, uproarious the next.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 6 Feb. 2025
Fans of football surely are both thrilled and pained at this matchup.
—Hannah Vanbiber, The Athletic, 14 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pain
Noun
-
The pandemic unearthed a collective ache that had long been buried beneath deadlines, distractions, and digital noise.—
Devi Brown,
Time,
24 Apr. 2025
-
Because over-the-counter pain relievers are so readily available, people often forget that pills aren't the only option when suffering from minor aches and pains, Pasricha says.—
Andee Tagle,
NPR,
18 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Kahle said that includes providing resources to participants for whom sharing experiences of intimate partner violence may cause trauma or mental health distress.—
Rae Ellen Bichell and Rachana Pradhan,
Miami Herald,
20 Apr. 2025
-
Costa Rican officials have disputed reports by the country’s Ombudsman’s Office that the deportees arrived in Costa Rica in visible distress and that authorities failed to guarantee proper conditions for arriving deportees.—
Megan Janetsky,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Despite the care taken, those ready-to-wear initial papal vestments didn't always do the trick.—
Christopher Watson,
ABC News,
21 Apr. 2025
-
The Vatican May Have Ever So Slightly Softened Its Stance on Trans People Doctrine chief Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández discussed the viability of gender dysphoria, while still condemning gender-affirming care, in a speech at a theological conference in Cologne in February, CNN reports.—
Samantha Riedel,
Them.,
21 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Additionally, award-winning author Pico Iyer was honored with the Robert Kirsch Award for lifetime achievement, and Amanda Gorman received the Innovator’s Award for her work promoting literacy, empowering youth and raising awareness on important issues.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2025
-
Harry, who was honored at the 2024 event for his work as an Apache helicopter pilot in Afghanistan during his 10 years in the military, joined Morgan Freeman and others in celebrating the aerial firefighters involved with the wildfires that devastated Los Angeles in January.—
Stephanie Petit,
People.com,
26 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
On April 30th, 2022, a security guard at a local business plaza called the police to report Mary as a nuisance.—
Sarah Stillman,
New Yorker,
14 Apr. 2025
-
Protester Trenton Oldfield swam in front of both boats and was jailed for six months for causing a public nuisance.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
12 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Eleven people were killed and at least 20 more hurt in a , police said Sunday.—
Joseph Wilkinson,
New York Daily News,
27 Apr. 2025
-
Thomas strongly pushed for the approval of an issue that hurt the progress of Black people while supporting the wishes of descendants of slave owners and like-minded people.—
Gary Franks,
Hartford Courant,
26 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Having to walk past those luxurious, roomy, and comfortable-looking lie-flat beds in business-class on your way to economy is enough to trigger a pang of jealousy.—
Stacey Leasca,
Travel + Leisure,
30 Mar. 2025
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As the time of iftar, the breaking of the fast, nears, a day’s worth of hunger pangs combine with jockeying among patrons desperate to get their marook loaves and rush home before the call to prayer sounds from mosque minarets.—
Kiana Hayeri,
New York Times,
26 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Ellie is stricken with agony, her reaction almost feral.—
Noel Murray,
New York Times,
21 Apr. 2025
-
The agony of not knowing was heartbreakingly illustrated by the plight of Oscar Johnson, of St. Charles.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pain. Accessed 3 May. 2025.
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