pained

American  

[peynd] / peɪnd /

adjective

1. hurt; injured.

2. showing or expressing distress, anguish, or resentment.

   a pained look in reply to a sarcastic remark.

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pained British  

/ peɪnd /

adjective

1. having or expressing pain or distress, esp mental or emotional distress

   a pained expression

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Other Word Forms

• overpained adjective
• unpained adjective

Etymology

Origin of pained

Middle English word dating back to 1300–50; see origin at pain, -ed ²

Explanation

When someone is pained, they're hurt or troubled by something. If you see a boy sitting on the ground beside a battered bicycle looking pained, you should check and make sure he's okay. A pained look on someone's face might mean that they're in physical discomfort. For example, if your sister gives a pained smile after falling hard at the roller rink, she might have bruised, twisted, or even broken something. In many other cases, a pained expression conveys mental pain. When you're deeply upset about something, it's hard to react with much more than a pained smile if your friend tries to cheer you up with bad jokes.

Example Sentences

But since the pits closed almost four decades ago, residents describe a slow and pained decline as people struggled to get well-paid, stable employment.

From BBC • Feb. 17, 2026

She said she is pained by the persistent kidnappings.

From Barron's • Nov. 26, 2025

A Father Christmas figure is pictured looking pained in the water at the foot of a rock.

From Barron's • Nov. 19, 2025

River for his concerts, Franca was the kind of spot he’d be pained to lose in his neighborhood.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 10, 2025

And she felt, as she sat, trembling, at Florence’s table, a reckless, pained relief.

From "Go Tell It on the Mountain" by James Baldwin

Related Words

• anguished
• distressed
• troubled