painfully

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "painfully" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is difficult or unpleasant, as in the following example sentence: I had to painfully endure hours of traffic on my way home from work.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It's the kind of lead that might tempt a campaign to begin to take victory for granted – at least the campaign of a candidate not so painfully familiar with the wrong side of a primary upset.

The Guardian

Her story of beatings and threats, reconciliations and divorce — painfully common among Native American women — had a twist.

The New York Times

That fantastic final scene where McNulty sits painfully typing up the documents necessary for the search warrant with one finger while the Greeks clear out the warehouse and flush the evidence down the drain.

The Guardian

He was able to speak directly to people outside the Westminster world, yet he was painfully shy and this gap between appearance and reality seemed to loom large.

The Guardian - Opinion

But what has become painfully clear from the furious row over the sycophantic official reaction in Washington and London to the death, this month, of King Abdullah is how much the relationship has changed, at least on the west's side of the bed.

The Guardian

I am incredibly lucky to be doing the job I am doing at the moment – and painfully aware of the fact that I would not be able to make music for a living without people on the internet caring about our band.

The Guardian - Music

We stroll around with our cameras and notebooks, spotting usable buildings and interesting shots, painfully aware of being completely out of place, every bit as incongruous as the intruding Londoners in our story.

The Guardian - Film

Contrast our show with the American version and that much becomes painfully clear.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Even as Cameron talks of "one nation" it's painfully clear that there is barely a single Westminster plan that Scotland will be even mildly keen on, apart from beefing up the Smith Commission and getting on with the job of promoting ever more distant union.

The Guardian - Opinion

It is a bleak but devastatingly funny account – including a painfully appropriate jibe at the leader line of this newspaper – of the dilemmas faced by Labour councillors running a northern town that has to make £22m of cuts.

The Guardian - Opinion

What's painfully apparent from all this is that it's summer in Tehran, which in recent memory has meant a renewed push by hardliners who control the disciplinary forces to redeploy the morality police in larger numbers to keep tabs on those who stray from the ambiguously defined public dress code.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing emotional states, "painfully" can effectively convey the depth and intensity of feelings such as sadness, regret, or embarrassment.

Common error

Avoid using "painfully" in everyday situations where a milder term would suffice. Overusing it can dilute its impact and make your writing sound melodramatic.

Linguistic Context

The adverb "painfully" modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs to express the degree or manner in which an action is performed or a state is experienced. It often amplifies the negative or difficult aspect of the situation, as Ludwig AI confirms, denoting something done in a painful or distressing manner.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The adverb "painfully" is used to intensify unpleasant situations, emphasizing difficulty, discomfort, or emotional distress. Ludwig AI confirms it's grammatically correct and frequently used, especially in News & Media sources. While "painfully" is a versatile term, avoid overuse in casual contexts to maintain its impact. Alternatives like "distressingly" or "acutely" offer subtle nuances for specific situations. To enhance written communication, use "painfully" strategically to convey the full impact of challenging or difficult experiences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

distressingly

Indicates a state of causing distress or suffering, emphasizing the emotional aspect of pain rather than the physical.

acutely

Highlights the intensity and sharpness of the experience, often referring to a heightened awareness or sensitivity.

grievously

Implies a deep sorrow or regret, adding a layer of emotional weight to the experience.

sorely

Focuses on the feeling of physical soreness or discomfort, often used in contexts of loss or need.

bitterly

Conveys a sense of resentment or anger mixed with the pain, emphasizing the negative emotional response.

awkwardly

Highlights the uncomfortable or clumsy nature of a situation, emphasizing the social discomfort rather than physical pain.

uncomfortably

Describes a lack of ease or comfort, broadly applicable to physical, emotional, or social situations.

noticeably

Emphasizes the visibility or obviousness of something, highlighting its presence rather than the pain it causes.

sensitively

Indicates dealing with situations or subjects requiring discretion and care because they could cause emotional pain.

clearly

Emphasizes the easiness to perceive or understand something, not necessarily involving pain but indicating obviousness.

FAQs

How can I use "painfully" in a sentence?

You can use "painfully" to describe something done in a painful manner, like "He "painfully recalled" the events of that day", or to emphasize an unpleasant truth, like "It was "painfully obvious" that they were not prepared".

What are some alternatives to "painfully"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "distressingly", "acutely", or "grievously". Each of these carries slightly different nuances.

Is it correct to use "painfully" to describe an emotional state?

Yes, "painfully" can effectively describe the intensity of emotional states. For example, you might say someone is "painfully aware" of their shortcomings or "painfully shy".

What is the difference between "painfully" and "painstakingly"?

"Painfully" describes something done in a manner causing pain or distress, while "painstakingly" describes something done with great care and attention to detail. The words are not interchangeable.