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
In his own letter, 14-year old Silas reflected on the politics and the pain. — Gregory Royal Pratt, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026 Many longtime residents have developed habits to calm their minds during these exceptional conditions — meditation, a dip in the ocean to trigger the calming mammalian dive response, support groups to talk through the pain. — Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
Verb
But as a catcher, he’s used to pain. — Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 20 May 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
  • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen or naproxen can help relieve pain and discomfort from headaches, body aches and sore throats by reducing inflammation, says Reed.
    — Andee Tagle, NPR, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The non-invasive form can cause gastrointestinal distress, fever and aches for a few days.
    — Eva Flowe October 15, Charlotte Observer, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of ache
Noun
  • The patient's distress was intense at first, Dugas said, but diminished considerably by the second day.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026
  • CoreWeave credit default swaps hit distress levels as investors soured on AI debt.
    — Kai Nicol-Schwarz, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of distress
Noun
  • While we are relieved that Heidi has received medical care and is safe, we are outraged by this unwarranted attack on a journalist doing her job and urge a thorough investigation and follow-through from authorities.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The foundation has also supported Dell Children’s Medical Center, which opened in 2007, and the Dell Pediatric Research Institute, helping expand access to specialized children’s care and medical research in the region.
    — Sydney Lake, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of care
Noun
  • Chisell, who previously worked at Amazon, eBay and Starling Bank, estimates that Paysend can now deliver around 25% more engineering work with the same-sized team, but argues that getting results isn’t as simple as handing everyone the latest tech.
    — Lindsay Dodgson, CNBC, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Making the show work within Keery’s schedule was a challenge.
    — Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of work
Noun
  • In August, the health board designated a $250,000 fund for rat abatement — so far the only public money in Idaho specifically earmarked to combat the nuisance.
    — Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The tablet takes a good 20 to 30 seconds to boot up from that state, which is a nuisance compared with the instant wake-up from sleep mode.
    — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of nuisance
Verb
  • The surfer who made the report was not bumped, bitten or otherwise hurt by the shark, Peters said.
    — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Every option needed to be the safest option possible or else he would get hurt.
    — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of hurt
Noun
  • Dining in the lounge is available all day to cater to international hunger pangs that don’t follow the same schedule as those of Spaniards.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Now, the new smaller version is available for hunger pangs between meals as many consumers are replacing traditional meals with snacks throughout the day, according to Datassential.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of pang
Noun
  • The minutes had passed so quickly for the rest of the world, but for the families waiting to learn whether their children were alive, the abrupt end of the gunfire wasn’t the end of their agony.
    — Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The daughters of burning witches were sometimes made to stand close to the pyre, being whipped by locals while watching their mothers die in agony.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 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 21 Oct. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pain

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