rather painful

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "rather painful" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe something that causes a significant amount of pain or discomfort, often in a subjective or emotional context. An example could be: "The recovery process was rather painful for him." Alternative expressions include "quite painful" and "somewhat painful."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

42 human-written examples

But overall it all looks rather painful.

The Economist

But it was very intense and rather painful.

Independent

Today, these optimistic forecasts make rather painful reading.

The Guardian - Opinion

It seems rather painful, especially coming from my original country".

The Guardian

"The last 50 meters were rather painful," Hall said.

The New York Times - Sports

Elizabeth had a rather painful first month and still feels languid but is much more comfortable.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

17 human-written examples

In the funniest sequence of the movie, Bill is seen developing the technique over the course of six years at various New Age events including Naked Hot Tub encounters, Beyond Jogging courses and a rather painful-looking course of colonic irrigation.

Independent

And so… Facebook Twitter Pinterest The above is a video summary, or even précis, of what Serena did to the No18 seed, Carla Suarez Navarro, in 52 minutes of rather-painful-to-watch quarter-final.

The Guardian

Kim et al. [ 17] demonstrated that the group of participants with a painless rather than painful jerk test [ 41] had significantly lower mean pain scores at follow up (Mann–Whitney U test, p < 0.001) (Additional file 10).

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

A patient from China, for example, might describe her leg as feeling "sour" rather than painful.

The New York Times

But I have been clean since 1987, and revisiting that journey from fear to love was joyful rather than painful.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "rather painful", consider the audience and context. In formal settings, alternatives like "considerably difficult" or "noticeably challenging" might be more appropriate.

Common error

Avoid using "rather painful" repeatedly in academic or business writing. This phrase can sound informal or overly subjective. Instead, vary your language with stronger, more precise terms that convey the specific nature and degree of the pain or difficulty.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rather painful" functions as an intensifier ("rather") modifying an adjective ("painful"). It describes the degree or extent of the pain being experienced or anticipated. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through various examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

28%

Wiki

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "rather painful" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to describe something causing significant discomfort or distress. Ludwig's AI validates its common use across multiple contexts, particularly in News & Media. While versatile, it's worth noting that more formal alternatives may be better suited for academic or business writing. Understanding appropriate contexts ensures that you convey your intended meaning effectively without sacrificing formality. Overall, "rather painful" provides a nuanced way to communicate subjective experiences of difficulty, with the intensity of pain lying somewhere between 'slightly' and 'very'.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

quite uncomfortable

Highlights the lack of ease and physical or mental discomfort associated with a situation.

fairly unpleasant

Indicates a degree of disagreeableness or distastefulness, focusing on the negative qualities of something.

somewhat agonizing

Emphasizes the experience of suffering or agony, suggesting a more intense level of pain.

moderately distressing

Focuses on the emotional or mental upset caused by something, implying a significant level of discomfort.

somewhat thorny

Highlights a situation that is complex and difficult to deal with, causing discomfort.

distinctly bothersome

Emphasizes the annoyance or irritation caused by something, indicating a clear and noticeable problem.

markedly distressing

Emphasizes the noticeable or significant amount of mental or emotional suffering caused.

pretty excruciating

Indicates extreme physical or mental suffering, amplifying the intensity of the painful experience.

relatively irritating

Focuses on the frustrating and vexing nature of something, suggesting a moderate level of annoyance.

genuinely tough

Focuses on the challenging nature of something, indicating difficulty and hardship.

FAQs

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

You can use "rather painful" to describe experiences or situations that cause significant discomfort or distress, such as "The surgery recovery was "rather painful"".

What are some alternatives to saying "rather painful"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "quite uncomfortable", "somewhat distressing", or "fairly unpleasant" to express a similar sentiment.

Is "rather painful" too informal for academic writing?

In some academic contexts, "rather painful" might be considered too informal. More suitable alternatives could include "considerably difficult" or "noticeably challenging", depending on the specific meaning you intend to convey.

What's the difference between "rather painful" and "very painful"?

"Rather painful" suggests a moderate level of pain, while "very painful" implies a higher, more intense degree of pain. The choice depends on the severity you want to express. "Very painful" indicates a greater intensity.