pretty painful

USAGE SUMMARY

'pretty painful' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use the phrase to describe a situation, feeling, or experience that is especially unpleasant or difficult. For example, "It was a pretty painful breakup."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

General

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It's pretty painful running in pain".

BBC

"It was pretty painful.

The New Yorker

It's pretty painful running".

The Guardian - Sport

That's pretty painful.

The Guardian

It's pretty painful".

The New York Times - Sports

Ooft, was pretty painful jazz.

The Guardian - Music

Unfortunately, it is pretty painful to parse.

University of California, Berkeley

"But right now, it feels pretty painful.

The New York Times - Sports

It is pretty painful out there.

The Guardian - Sport

It's pretty painful to go through.

The New York Times - Sports

"But tonight, it was pretty painful.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing emotional distress, consider using "pretty painful" to convey a sense of deep, affecting sadness or disappointment without resorting to overly dramatic language. For example: "The loss was "pretty painful", but we are trying to move forward."

Common error

Avoid using "pretty painful" in highly formal or professional settings, as it can come across as too informal. Opt for more sophisticated alternatives such as "considerably difficult" or "remarkably challenging" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pretty painful" functions as a compound adjective modifying a noun. It describes the degree or intensity of pain or unpleasantness associated with something. Ludwig AI identifies its frequent use in describing negative experiences.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Sports

30%

General

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

5%

Science

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "pretty painful" is a common and generally acceptable way to describe something that is significantly unpleasant, whether physically, emotionally, or situationally. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage across various sources. While versatile, it's best to reserve it for neutral to informal contexts, opting for more sophisticated alternatives in formal settings. Understanding the nuances and appropriateness of "pretty painful" will help you use it effectively in your writing and communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fairly uncomfortable

Replaces "painful" with "uncomfortable", lessening the severity.

rather unpleasant

Replaces "painful" with "unpleasant", softening the intensity slightly.

quite distressing

Substitutes "painful" with "distressing", shifting focus to emotional discomfort.

somewhat agonizing

Replaces "pretty" with "somewhat" and "painful" with "agonizing", intensifying the discomfort.

exceptionally irritating

Shifts from physical pain to something that causes annoyance or frustration.

considerably difficult

Shifts the focus from pain to the difficulty of a situation.

noticeably arduous

Replaces "painful" with "arduous", emphasizing the strenuous effort involved.

remarkably trying

Replaces "painful" with "trying", highlighting the challenging nature.

distinctly troublesome

Replaces "painful" with "troublesome", emphasizing the problematic nature of the situation.

genuinely regrettable

Alters the sentiment to express sorrow or disappointment about a situation.

FAQs

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

You can use "pretty painful" to describe experiences, situations, or feelings that are significantly unpleasant or difficult. For instance, "The recovery process was "pretty painful"" or "Losing the game was "pretty painful" for the whole team".

What are some alternatives to "pretty painful"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "fairly uncomfortable", "somewhat agonizing", or "quite distressing" to convey a similar meaning.

Is "pretty painful" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "pretty painful" might be too informal for certain formal contexts. In those situations, consider using more formal alternatives like "considerably difficult" or "noticeably arduous".

What does "pretty painful" actually mean?

"Pretty painful" means something is considerably unpleasant, whether physically, emotionally, or mentally. It suggests a level of discomfort that is more than mildly bothersome but not necessarily excruciating.