painful
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Learner's definition of PAINFUL
[more painful; most painful]
1 : causing pain to your body
- I got a painful sunburn.
- a painful skin condition
- His ankle is swollen and painful to the touch. [=his ankle hurts if he touches it]
2 : causing emotional pain
- We can't ignore our country's painful history of slavery.
- His questions brought up a lot of painful memories.
- It was painful to watch.
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