1. (

• painful

) causing physical or psychological pain; "worked with painful slowness" ;

2. (

• afflictive ,
• painful ,
• sore

) causing misery or pain or distress; "it was a sore trial to him"; "the painful process of growing up" ;

3. (

• atrocious ,
• abominable ,
• awful ,
• dreadful ,
• painful ,
• terrible ,
• unspeakable

) exceptionally bad or displeasing; "atrocious taste"; "abominable workmanship"; "an awful voice"; "dreadful manners"; "a painful performance"; "terrible handwriting"; "an unspeakable odor came sweeping into the room" ;

4. (

• irritating ,
• painful

) causing physical discomfort; "bites of black flies are more than irritating; they can be very painful" ;