pained
Americanadjective
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hurt; injured.
-
showing or expressing distress, anguish, or resentment.
a pained look in reply to a sarcastic remark.
adjective
Other Word Forms
- overpained adjective
- unpained adjective
Etymology
Origin of pained
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
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
"His visit will lift the spirits of a pained community," said Alex Ryvchin, co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, the community's peak body.
From Barron's • Feb. 7, 2026
She said she is pained by the persistent kidnappings.
From Barron's • Nov. 26, 2025
City boss Guardiola's dismay was captured by a pained expression on his face at full-time, slowly applauding the travelling support before dragging himself down the tunnel with slumped shoulders.
From BBC • Sep. 21, 2025
"I think we're both hungry. We better eat something before we make another big mistake," Max says with a pained expression.
From "The Sky at Our Feet" by Nadia Hashimi
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
