English

edit

Etymology

edit

From Middle English peinfully, paynefully, equivalent to painful +‎ -ly.

Pronunciation

edit
  • IPA(key): /ˈpeɪnfəli/
  • Audio (US):(file)

Adverb

edit

painfully (comparative more painfully, superlative most painfully)

  1. In a painful manner; as if in pain.
    I limped painfully down the stairs.
  2. (informal) Badly; poorly.
    That was the most painfully sung rendition of “Fly Me to the Moon” that I’ve ever heard.

Collocations

edit

Some adjectives commonly collocating with painfully:

  • painfully long
  • painfully slow
  • painfully boring
  • painfully close
  • painfully obvious

Translations

edit