19
involved(adjective, hard, difficult, complex)
19
profound(adjective, hard, difficult, complex)
18
hurtful(adjective, hard, severe, sharp, tender)
18
ambitious(adjective, hard, difficult, complex)
18
bitter(adjective, hard, moving, tough, evil)
18
impossible(adjective, hard, difficult, complex)
18
rugged(adjective, hard, tough, difficult, harsh)
18
stubborn(adjective, hard, tough, difficult, harsh)
18
tricky(adjective, hard, difficult, complex)
18
troubled(adjective, hard, difficult, complex)
18
weighty(adjective, hard, difficult, complex)
17
piercing(adjective, severe, sharp, tender, intense)
17
tormenting(adjective, severe, tender, raw, shocking)
15
unpleasant(adjective, hard, tough, severe, sharp)
15
acute(adjective, severe, sharp, harsh, delicate)
15
distasteful(adjective, like, tender, pain, offensive)
14
aching(adjective, sharp, rough, delicate, tender)
14
burning(adjective, hard, severe, sharp, tender)
14
torturous(adjective, severe, shocking, upsetting, disturbing)
13
awful(adjective, bad, severe, tender, offensive)
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APASmart Define. (2015). painful thesaurus. Retrieved September 28, 2026, from https://smartdefine.org/painful/thesaurus/synonyms
ChicagoSmart Define. 2015. "painful thesaurus" https://smartdefine.org/painful/thesaurus/synonyms (accessed September 28, 2026).
HarvardSmart Define 2015, painful thesaurus, Smart Define, viewed 28 September, 2026, <https://smartdefine.org/painful/thesaurus/synonyms>.
MLASmart Define. "painful thesaurus" 21 July 2015. Web. 28 September 2026. <https://smartdefine.org/painful/thesaurus/synonyms>