Definition of "painful" in English

adjective

1. Causing pain or distress, either physical or mental.

2. Afflicted or suffering with pain (of a body part or, formerly, of a person).

3. Requiring effort or labor; difficult, laborious.

4. (archaic) Painstaking; careful; industrious.

5. (informal) Very bad, poor.

   • His violin playing is painful.