painfully slow

USAGE SUMMARY

'painfully slow' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is moving in a sluggish, tedious manner. For example, "The train was so painfully slow that it took us two hours to reach our destination."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Progress is painfully slow.

The New York Times

Reform is painfully slow.

The Economist

Economic growth remains painfully slow.

The New York Times

And adjustment is painfully slow.

The Economist

Justice is painfully slow.

The New York Times

Progress was painfully slow.

The Guardian - Books

Here, progress has been painfully slow.

The Economist

But progress is painfully slow.

The Guardian

It was painfully slow going.

The New York Times

Progress has been painfully slow.

The New York Times

Cost reduction is also painfully slow.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "painfully slow" when you want to emphasize not only the slowness of something but also the frustration or difficulty it causes. It's more impactful than simply saying "slow".

Common error

While "painfully slow" is acceptable in news and professional settings, avoid overusing it in casual conversations. Simpler alternatives like "very slow" or "really slow" might be more appropriate for informal contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "painfully slow" functions primarily as an adverbial modifier intensifying the adjective "slow". It describes the manner in which something moves or progresses, emphasizing the unpleasant or frustrating nature of its slowness. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

95%

Formal & Business

3%

Science

1%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "painfully slow" is a grammatically correct and common phrase used to describe something progressing with significant slowness and frustration. According to Ludwig AI, its primary function is to intensify the adjective "slow" and convey a negative sentiment. While suitable for news, professional, and even some informal contexts, simpler alternatives may be preferable in casual conversations. The phrase is frequently found in news and media sources, highlighting its widespread use in describing the pace of various developments.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extremely slow

Emphasizes the degree of slowness.

terribly slow

Highlights the negative impact of the slowness.

excruciatingly slow

Intensifies the slowness and the discomfort it causes.

agonizingly slow

Stresses the frustrating and prolonged nature of the slowness.

incredibly slow

Focuses on the surprising and unbelievable extent of the slowness.

depressingly slow

Highlights the discouraging effect of the lack of progress.

frustratingly slow

Emphasizes the annoyance caused by the slowness.

wearyingly slow

Indicates the slowness is tiring and exhausting.

at a snail's pace

Uses a metaphor to describe the extreme slowness.

creepingly slow

Suggests a subtle and almost imperceptible slowness.

FAQs

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

You can use "painfully slow" to describe the progress of something, such as "The economic recovery has been "painfully slow"" or to describe the speed of something, such as "The website was "painfully slow" to load".

What are some alternatives to "painfully slow"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "extremely slow", "terribly slow", or "excruciatingly slow". These phrases convey a similar meaning of something progressing with significant slowness.

Is it appropriate to use "painfully slow" in formal writing?

Yes, "painfully slow" is suitable for formal writing. It is often used in news articles, academic papers, and business reports to describe the pace of processes or developments.

What makes "painfully slow" different from simply saying "slow"?

"Painfully slow" emphasizes not only the slowness of something but also the frustration, difficulty, or negative impact associated with that slowness. It adds a layer of intensity to the description.