1. causing physical pain or discomfort
2. causing emotional distress or mental anguish
3. difficult or unpleasant to endure

Examples

• The injection was quite painful.
• She had a painful bruise on her knee.
• It was painful to watch him struggle with the loss.
• The breakup brought back painful memories.
• The long hike up the mountain was painful but rewarding.
• He found the math test painfully difficult.
• The painful silence stretched between them.