26984 words

painfully

4 definitions • 5 examples
1
in a way that causes pain:

Examples:

Without surgery, this animal will die slowly and painfully.
2
used to emphasize a quality, action, or situation that is unpleasant or not wanted:

Examples:

I am painfully aware that I have made mistakes.
It was a painfully slow journey.
3
unpleasantly but clearly:

Examples:

We were painfully aware of the money that we had lost already.
4
Painfully is also used to emphasize a quality or situation that is unpleasant or not desirable:

Examples:

He’s a bright boy, but painfully shy.

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