pain

An unpleasant feeling in your body when you are injured or ill.

• My leg is in pain.
• She felt a sharp pain in her chest.
• These tablets help reduce pain.

How to use it: pain in something (I have a pain in my shoulder.)

Similar words: hurt, suffering

Opposites: comfort

Common phrases: in pain, chest pain, pain relief, back pain

Someone or something that annoys you or makes life difficult.

• This lock is a pain.
• Finding somewhere to park was a real pain.
• Stop being such a pain!

Similar words: nuisance, bother

Common phrases: a real pain, such a pain, be a pain

Deep sadness or distress caused by loss, disappointment, or other difficult experiences.

• His words caused her pain.
• She understood the pain of losing a friend.
• Time has eased some of their pain.

Similar words: suffering, distress, anguish

Opposites: pleasure, joy

Common phrases: emotional pain, pain of loss, cause someone pain

To make someone feel sad or upset.

• Her cold reply pained him.
• It pains me to say goodbye.
• Knowing that I had disappointed her pained me deeply.

How to use it: it pains someone to do something (It pains me to see you so unhappy.)

Similar words: distress, sadden, hurt

Opposites: comfort

Common phrases: pain someone, pain someone deeply

To cause an unpleasant feeling in someone’s body.

• His old wound pained him.
• The injured knee pained her when she walked.
• Every movement pained his aching back.

Similar words: hurt, torment

Opposites: soothe

Common phrases: pain someone, pain someone greatly

To feel an unpleasant sensation in your body.

• My head pains badly.
• His injured leg pained all night.
• The wound began to pain again.

Similar words: hurt, ache

Common phrases: pain badly, begin to pain