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

"His visit will lift the spirits of a pained community and we hope will lead to a much-needed recalibration of bilateral relations between two historic allies," he said.

From BBC • Feb. 8, 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

“Nobody did this to me,” the chupacabras said, his voice low and pained.

From "Summer of the Mariposas" by Guadalupe García McCall

Related Words

• anguished
• distressed
• troubled