extremely painful

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "extremely painful" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a level of pain that is very intense or severe. Example: "After the surgery, I experienced an extremely painful recovery process that made it difficult to move."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Was it extremely painful?

The New Yorker

It was extremely painful.

The Guardian

Which is extremely painful.

The Guardian

That looked extremely painful.

The Guardian - Sport

It's an extremely painful injury.

Independent

"That was so extremely painful.

The New York Times - Magazine

This can be extremely painful.

The Guardian

It's been extremely painful for him".

The New Yorker

Some of these are extremely painful.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"It's extremely painful for the entire organization".

The New York Times

"It was extremely painful and extremely humiliating.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To enhance clarity, follow "extremely painful" with specific details about the source or nature of the pain. For example, "The surgery was extremely painful, especially during the first few days of recovery."

Common error

While "extremely painful" is a valid phrase, avoid relying on it excessively. Overuse of intensifiers like "extremely" can weaken your writing and make it sound less credible. Vary your descriptions by using more specific and evocative language to portray the experience of pain.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "extremely painful" primarily functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun to describe the intensity of pain. Ludwig's examples show its use across various contexts to emphasize the severity of a physical or emotional experience.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

20%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

8%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "extremely painful" is a grammatically sound and frequently used adjective phrase to describe a high degree of pain, whether physical or emotional. According to Ludwig, the phrase is acceptable in various contexts and is commonly found in news, science, and encyclopedic sources. While versatile, it's essential to avoid overuse and consider more specific language for nuanced descriptions. When writing, remember that while the phrase effectively conveys intensity, specificity enhances clarity. Ludwig's AI confirms its correctness and wide applicability, making it a reliable choice for expressing acute suffering.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

intensely painful

Replaces "extremely" with "intensely" maintaining the core meaning but with a slightly different emphasis on the intensity of the pain.

excruciatingly painful

Substitutes "extremely" with "excruciatingly" to convey a more severe level of pain.

highly agonizing

Replaces "painful" with "agonizing" which implies more mental and emotional suffering in addition to physical pain.

unbearably sore

Changes "painful" to "sore", focusing on a dull or aching pain that is difficult to endure.

severely aching

Uses "aching" to describe a persistent and dull pain, modified by "severely" to indicate intensity.

terribly hurting

Replaces "painful" with the more active "hurting", emphasizing the ongoing sensation of pain, intensified by "terribly".

exceedingly uncomfortable

Shifts the focus from pain to discomfort, suggesting a sensation that is more irritating and bothersome than acutely painful.

remarkably distressing

Emphasizes the emotional impact of the pain, suggesting that it causes significant mental anguish.

acutely sensitive

Focuses on heightened sensitivity to stimuli, implying that even slight contact or movement can cause pain.

incredibly tender

Highlights the fragility and vulnerability of the affected area, suggesting that it is easily injured or irritated.

FAQs

How can I use "extremely painful" in a sentence?

You can use "extremely painful" to describe a severe level of physical or emotional suffering. For example, "The surgery was "extremely painful", requiring strong medication for relief." or "The loss of her job was an "extremely painful" experience for her.

What are some alternatives to "extremely painful"?

Some alternatives to "extremely painful" include "intensely painful", "excruciatingly painful", or "highly agonizing depending on the context".

Is it correct to say "very painful" instead of "extremely painful"?

Yes, "very painful" is also correct, but "extremely painful" emphasizes a higher degree of pain. The choice depends on the specific level of intensity you wish to convey. Consider also "highly painful".

Can "extremely painful" be used for emotional suffering as well as physical pain?

Yes, "extremely painful" can describe both physical and emotional suffering. For example, "The breakup was an "extremely painful" experience for him," refers to emotional distress.