1
as in attention
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in effort
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
as in aches
to feel or cause physical pain
my poor head was paining so from all that racket
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pains
Kenneth Seeskin,
Chicago Tribune,
5 July 2026
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
Each song serves as a reflection of the journey she's been through over the past few years, exploring her mindset shifts, trials, pains and growth.
—
Kayla Grant,
PEOPLE,
1 July 2026
My colleague Susan King wrote a profile of Blyth in 2013, taking pains to separate the woman from the character.
—
Deputy Managing Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
29 June 2026
There have been teething pains with Neutron, however, including engine failures and structural test anomalies.
—
Eric Berger,
ArsTechnica,
29 June 2026
The 74-year-old Weinstein, meanwhile, reported chest pains during jury deliberations in the most recent trial, spurring another early end to court.
—
ABC News,
25 June 2026
The colors, pains, pleasures, smells, tastes and sounds, the what-it’s-like of being conscious, are not private inner bits and blobs that philosophers call qualia, floating in a theatre of the mind.
—
Andréa Morris,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
Bezos has been at pains to correct assumptions about what Prometheus actually does.
—
Catherina Gioino,
Fortune,
17 June 2026
Austin Perry Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
6 May 2026
His disaffection baffles his acquaintances and pains his tubercular wife (a superb Quinn Jackson), whose doctor (Lambert Tamin) has only contempt for her husband’s agonizing.
—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
But regret pains them like a knot in their shoulders.
—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
6 Aug. 2025
Noun
Having witnessed centuries of religious warfare in Europe, when millions were killed for their beliefs, the framers took pains to make sure nothing like that would happen here.
—
Kenneth Seeskin,
Chicago Tribune,
5 July 2026
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
Each song serves as a reflection of the journey she's been through over the past few years, exploring her mindset shifts, trials, pains and growth.
—
Kayla Grant,
PEOPLE,
1 July 2026
My colleague Susan King wrote a profile of Blyth in 2013, taking pains to separate the woman from the character.
—
Deputy Managing Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
29 June 2026
There have been teething pains with Neutron, however, including engine failures and structural test anomalies.
—
Eric Berger,
ArsTechnica,
29 June 2026
The 74-year-old Weinstein, meanwhile, reported chest pains during jury deliberations in the most recent trial, spurring another early end to court.
—
ABC News,
25 June 2026
The colors, pains, pleasures, smells, tastes and sounds, the what-it’s-like of being conscious, are not private inner bits and blobs that philosophers call qualia, floating in a theatre of the mind.
—
Andréa Morris,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
Bezos has been at pains to correct assumptions about what Prometheus actually does.
—
Catherina Gioino,
Fortune,
17 June 2026
Verb
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
His disaffection baffles his acquaintances and pains his tubercular wife (a superb Quinn Jackson), whose doctor (Lambert Tamin) has only contempt for her husband’s agonizing.
—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
But regret pains them like a knot in their shoulders.
—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
6 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pains
Noun
-
In June 2024, Kelce and Swift were at the center of worldwide attention, even though their relationship wasn’t even a year old.
-
The retro ensemble caught the attention of fans and press everywhere.
Noun
-
But the effort was set aside after the onset of COVID-19, which caused massive disruptions across the Los Angeles Unified School District, said Michael Trujillo, a political strategist for Gonez.
-
Both countries have stepped up efforts to safeguard freedom of navigation and uphold international law in the strait, including hosting a summit with 51 other nations in April.
Verb
-
Symptoms include fever, headache, body aches, vomiting, diarrhea or rash, according to the CDC.
-
Some people also experience body aches, headache or vomiting.
Noun
-
The government sets prices One basic reason why doctors earn a lot is that medical care costs a lot, researchers say.
-
Talat’s mocktails display the same thoughtfulness, intention and care as the food.
Noun
-
Roth was placed on administrative leave but returned to work shortly afterward, according to the lawsuit.
-
Considering flight attendants spend the majority of their week living out of a suitcase, their luggage has to be truly top-tier—capable of holding all of their work essentials, personal items, and more without missing a beat.
Verb
-
Losing in Game 7 already hurts enough, but losing in extra innings to the Los Angeles Dodgers is a real twist of the knife.
-
Neighbors are worried the next crash could be the one that busts through their wall or hurts someone who lives in one of the nearby homes.
Noun
-
This carefulness is clearly strategic.
-
There was no carefulness in it.
Noun
-
The combination of heat and high humidity feels insufferable and dangerous because the human body can't cool off as effectively when sweat stays on the skin.
-
Foad adds that the idea of eliminating toxins comes from sweat washing away trace amounts of heavy metals from the skin, rather than flushing toxins from inside the body.
Cite this Entry
“Pains.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pains. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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