Collocations for "painful"
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word "painful" in context.
WordReference English Collocations © 2025
painful
ⓘMost examples are given in US English. We have labeled exceptions as UK.adj
- a painful [process, experience, romance]
- [suffered, had] a painful [accident, fall, tackle, collision, death]
- [went through, underwent, endured] a painful process
- a painful [injury, cut, wound]
- a painful swelling of the [skin, glands, throat]
- a painful [condition, sacrifice]
- [excruciatingly, really, extremely, very] painful
- was painful at [first, the beginning]
- that was just painful!
- just the thought of it is painful!
- was (really) painful to [watch, see, observe, hear, read]
- it's painful to admit (it), but
- was a painful way to [do, get, make]
- it was a painful reminder [that, about, to, of]
- served as a painful [lesson, reminder]
- [stirred up, revived, brought back] painful memories
- [face, accept, admit] the painful truth
'painful' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):