pain 1 of 2

noun

ˈpān How to pronounce pain (audio)
Definition of painnext
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

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2
as in distress
a state of great suffering of body or mind a sprained ankle caused him great pain for a week

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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

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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

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5
as in nuisance
one who is obnoxiously annoying sometimes that child, who apparently never tires of asking questions, can be such a pain

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pain

2 of 2

verb

as in to ache
to feel or cause physical pain my poor head was paining so from all that racket

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of pain
Noun
Lee died in 1973 at 32 after an allergic reaction to pain medication. — ABC News, 1 July 2026 For Clarke, Katie, 38, and Mary Grace’s 6-year-old brother, Jeb, the passage of time is one of the few things that has helped soothe their unbearable pain. — Johnny Dodd, PEOPLE, 1 July 2026
Verb
Today, mindful of the most recent wars, mindful of all the atrocities com-mitted, this happy fantasy has lost its charm, death has lost its innocence, pain its magnitude, irreversible. — Literary Hub, 31 Mar. 2026 This one pains me as a Roth-era Van Halen fan, but there is no denying the band found incredible radio success with new frontman Sammy Hagar in the fold. — Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 6 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for pain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pain
  1. ache
  2. distress
  3. care
  4. work
  5. nuisance
  6. hurt
  7. pang
  8. agony
Noun
  • Perhaps second only to getting sunburned through your favorite white dress, the greatest casualty of summer fashion is the aches and pains brought on by your cutest but least supportive shoes.
    — Annie Blackman, InStyle, 4 July 2026
  • Good posture helps prevent aches in the back, neck and shoulders, reduces joint wear and lowers the risk of sports injuries, according to Cleveland Clinic.
    — Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 1 July 2026
Definition of ache
Noun
  • Watch closely for signs of heat distress in yourself and others, including your neighbors and the elderly, Delaney said.
    — Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • Never upside down — The flag should never be displayed upside down except as a signal of distress.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 3 July 2026
Definition of distress
Noun
  • The government sets prices One basic reason why doctors earn a lot is that medical care costs a lot, researchers say.
    — Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 5 July 2026
  • Talat’s mocktails display the same thoughtfulness, intention and care as the food.
    — Blair Crosby, AJC.com, 5 July 2026
Definition of care
Noun
  • But when menstrual symptoms become severe enough to interfere with work, school, relationships or daily activities, something more serious may be going on.
    — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 7 July 2026
  • Oh, and hundreds of her works fill the screen, a magnificent and vibrant tour through her glorious career.
    — Stuart Miller, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
Definition of work
Noun
  • And to add insult to social and cultural injury, the new policies also present a logistical nuisance.
    — Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 30 June 2026
  • In New York, night clubs were sometimes regarded as a civic nuisance; one obstacle was the city’s cabaret law, from 1926, which required bars to obtain a special permit if patrons were dancing and was not fully repealed until 2017.
    — Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 29 June 2026
Definition of nuisance
Verb
  • But many Catholics, including conservative and traditional ones, are opposed to the consecrations, viewing them as an act of severe disobedience to the pope that hurts the church.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 1 July 2026
  • But many Catholics not in Econe, including conservative and traditional ones, opposed the consecrations as an act of severe disobedience that hurts the church.
    — Jamey Keaten, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
Definition of hurt
Noun
  • When its inevitable end arrives, the sun’s core will exhaust the last traces of hydrogen fuel and kick off the first stellar death pangs.
    — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 1 July 2026
  • Kanaal is king for indulging elevenses hunger pangs, providing cakes, cookies, tea, coffee, and made-to-order traditional Dutch sweets including stroopwafles and puffertjes.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 June 2026
Definition of pang
Noun
  • Rojas said the earthquakes have caused agony for Venezuelan players, even those who didn’t lose family or friends.
    — Greg Beacham, Chicago Tribune, 6 July 2026
  • There were the two calls in September, one about a detainee who lay on the floor holding his stomach in agony and unable to speak after swallowing an unknown object.
    — Perla Trevizo, ProPublica, 3 July 2026
Definition of agony

Phrases Containing pain

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pails
pain
pained
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Cite this Entry

“Pain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pain. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on pain

Nglish: Translation of pain for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pain

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