albeit painfully

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "albeit painfully" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to acknowledge a situation or fact that is true, while also indicating that it comes with difficulty or discomfort. Example: "He accepted the decision, albeit painfully, knowing it was for the best."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

All three are edging, albeit painfully slowly, towards freer societies.

The Economist

Sir John Browne lobbied Mr Richardson before his visit to Saudi Arabia.If oil companies find that they can adapt, albeit painfully, OPEC countries will find it much harder.

The Economist

"To whom?" The current situation of Knight Ridder, the owner of newspapers including The Philadelphia Inquirer and The Miami Herald, brings back that joke, albeit painfully.

The New York Times

But, he says, all this is changing: in ten years or so, Kurdistan will be not only a happy province, but also a prosperous one.Security, a crucial prerequisite, has already been provided, albeit painfully.

The Economist

Now the capital is moving to the labour: the mountain is moving to Muhammad, if you will.Things have been stirring on the poor side of the sea since 2000, albeit painfully slowly.

The Economist

Saturday afternoon, Izzo crossed the 90-year-old basketball museum off his list — albeit painfully — losing to Penn State, 72-63, before a delirious sellout crowd of 8,722 on a snowy Saturday in central Philadelphia.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

All the options under consideration are founded on the fund's reputation for helping countries, albeit sometimes painfully, return to fiscal health and manage short-term liquidity crises.

The New York Times

When the young sweethearts succumb to sexual temptation and Ambar becomes pregnant, "Salaam Namaste" turns into a serious relationship movie, albeit a painfully obvious one by American movie standards.

The New York Times

Today, Terror Avenue is only a memory, albeit still a painfully recent one.

The New York Times

You can sort of see some rationale behind it; bee stings obviously have a definite physical effect on the body, they're 100% natural (another substitute for effectiveness), and a localised swelling certainly would remove wrinkles, albeit temporarily and painfully.

The Guardian

In a cable written on 13 February 2009, US diplomats said that in the year after Bout's arrest, extradition proceedings in Thailand were "going in the way we want" – albeit at a "painfully slow" pace.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "albeit painfully" to acknowledge a positive outcome or acceptance of a situation, even when it involves difficulty or discomfort. This adds nuance to your writing and shows awareness of the full context.

Common error

While grammatically correct, "albeit painfully" can sound overly formal or dramatic in everyday conversation. Consider simpler alternatives like "though it hurt" or "even if it was hard" for a more natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "albeit painfully" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the manner in which an action is performed or a situation is experienced. Ludwig examples confirm its use to add a qualification of difficulty or discomfort.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "albeit painfully" is a grammatically correct adverbial phrase used to express that something is happening or is accepted despite some degree of pain or difficulty. As Ludwig AI shows, it's most commonly found in news and media contexts, adding nuance by acknowledging a less desirable aspect. While acceptable in formal writing, consider less formal alternatives for casual conversations. Remember to use ""albeit painfully"" when you want to highlight both the occurrence and the associated hardship.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

though not without pain

Similar in structure but more explicit about the presence of pain.

though with difficulty

Focuses on the difficulty involved, omitting the sense of reluctant acceptance implied by "albeit".

with significant discomfort

Uses a more formal term, "discomfort", to soften the impact of "pain".

even if it hurts

Emphasizes the painful aspect, making it more direct and less formal.

though it caused distress

Replaces "pain" with "distress", indicating emotional or mental suffering.

with some suffering

Highlights the suffering endured, replacing the concessive aspect of "albeit".

while enduring hardship

Focuses on the endurance of hardship, emphasizing resilience rather than just pain.

painfully, yet willingly

Contrasts the pain with willingness, adding a layer of active acceptance.

reluctantly, but with acceptance

Replaces the direct pain aspect with a sense of reluctance.

at a considerable cost

Shifts the focus from pain to the overall cost or sacrifice involved.

FAQs

How can I use "albeit painfully" in a sentence?

You can use "albeit painfully" to show that something is true or happening, but with some degree of pain or difficulty. For example: "He accepted the decision, "albeit painfully", knowing it was for the best."

What's a less formal way to say "albeit painfully"?

If you want to sound less formal, you could say "though it hurt", "even if it was hard", or "but with difficulty". These alternatives convey a similar meaning without the formality of ""albeit painfully"".

Is it correct to use "albeit painfully" in academic writing?

Yes, ""albeit painfully"" is appropriate for academic writing, as it is grammatically correct and adds nuance to your expression. Just ensure it fits the overall tone and style of your paper.

What's the difference between "although painfully" and ""albeit painfully""?

While both phrases indicate something happens with pain, "albeit" implies a concession or exception. "Although" simply introduces a contrast. "Albeit painfully" suggests something is accepted despite the pain, whereas "although painfully" just notes the pain as a condition.