It is never easy to find the right words to describe pain, especially in different situations. Finding the proper words could be difficult even if you had a dictionary in front of you. It’s because emotions are difficult to describe.
If you are looking for the right words to describe pain, we have several below that will perfectly fit any type of situation that you may experience.
Words to Describe Pain: When describing physical pain
01Sickening
“I got quite a sickening feeling in my stomach after eating the food in my friend’s fridge. I am feeling nauseous; I feel like I might vomit at any moment.”
It gives someone an idea of the displeasure that you are feeling.
02Aching
“My whole body started aching after I danced and jumped around at that concert last night. I do not think it will be a good idea for me to do any type of work today.”
Aching is a word commonly used to express a feeling of pain in a particular part of your body or in your entire body.
03Throbbing
“My neighbor loves playing loud music in the evening, which is quite irritating for me because I can’t relax after a long day of work. This is the reason why I always get a throbbing headache at night.”
Throbbing is great to use in this case because it captures the recurring pain that you may be experiencing.
04Cramping
“I always brace myself for the worst, especially when I know my period is about to start. I always need to get some pain medication to help me with the serious cramping that I get during this time, each month.”
Cramping is the perfect alternative when you cannot find any other words to describe pain in your muscles or abdominal area.
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05Sharp
“My sister put the living room table in a very odd position. The sharp pain that I felt after hitting my toe on the table’s edge is something that I will not be able to forget for a long time.”
The word sharp is a great word to describe the sudden feeling of intense pain.
06Burning
“There is a burning sensation that I always get in my mouth whenever I eat oranges, spices, or hot food. I hope that it goes away soon, or I’ll have to see the doctor.”
Burning is the right word to use to describe your pain when you get a prickly sensation after eating something spicy, tangy, or hot.
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07Stabbing
“I have been experiencing a stabbing pain in my body since I was involved in a rear-end collision with my car, while coming from work. Sometimes the pain is not there, but when it does occur, it is always sudden and intense.”
This word helps to paint a clear picture of a reoccurring intense pain that you may be feeling as a result of a serious incident.
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08Raw
“I think it was a bad idea for me to go out to the beach without applying sunscreen. There is a raw feeling that I have on my skin, which has turned red because they were actually severe sunburns.”
Raw is the perfect word to use when you experience an extremely sore or tender feeling when it comes to your skin.
Words to Describe Pain: When describing emotional pain
09Anguish
“It has been two weeks since I was fired from my job, and it was for a small mistake that I made. I have been in anguish ever since, wondering whether I could have done things differently to avoid losing my job.”
Anguish helps to describe the feelings of extreme sadness and anxiety brought out by emotional pain.
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10Distress
“The sad news that John delivered caused me a lot of emotional distress. I could not believe that my brother would betray me like that.”
People associate the word distress with anxiety and stress, so this word is good for describing any form of emotional pain.
11Trauma
“It will take some time before Susan will get over the trauma of losing her child. She will have to see a psychiatrist to help her get over that horrible experience.”
The word trauma is the best word to use to describe pain, especially when it is intense and caused by a deeply disturbing experience.
“Living in the projects has always been a source of misery for me, and it’s due to the living conditions there. The overcrowding and lack of proper systems are contributing in major ways to the overall problem.”
Misery helps to perfectly describe the awful and wretched feeling that you can experience when you have poor living conditions. .
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13Affliction
“Losing my house and job caused me a lot of affliction. I have to get used to being homeless and jobless now.”
The word affliction is among the best words to describe pain, especially when you are going through an extremely rough patch.
14Torment
“I have been going through a lot of emotional torment since my boyfriend betrayed me. I can neither sleep nor eat in peace; since I learned that he cheated on me with my friend, I haven’t been the same.”
You can use the word torment to express the mental suffering that you are going through, which are being worsened by feelings of jealousy and heartbreak.
15Tribulation
“My business has been experiencing some difficult times, and it’s yet to pick up. These tribulations have caused me so much suffering and pain.”
If you are going through some form of persecution or trial, the word tribulation would be able to help you describe your pain.
16Woe
“My favorite team recently lost to the neighboring team. To add to my woes, I also lost the jackpot draw this week.”
Often, grief and regret cause people emotional pain, and the word woe can help you describe that pain.
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17Heartache
“That man was nothing but trouble to me before we broke up. I must admit that I loved him, and I experienced a lot of heartache when he left me.”
Heartache is a good word to use to describe the emotional pain and suffering that comes after a serious breakup with a long-time partner.
“Jeb was in great agony after his coach turned him down for the quarterback position. The rejection came as a shock to him; he always expected to get that position over his teammates.”
The word agony can help you describe the feeling that you get after a defeat or rejection from someone you care about.
19Sorrow
“I was filled with great sorrow after learning about the death of my former classmate. The news came as a shock to me, especially since we were so close.”
The emotional pain that comes after experiencing disappointment and other misfortunes can be best described using the word sorrow.
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20Dejected
“Nothing makes me feel more dejected than seeing my business lose its profits due to unnecessary interruptions and unexpected events. The feeling of depression and sadness that are following this experience are greatly overwhelming.”
The word dejected can be used to describe an emotional state of sadness and depression; it can also be used to describe someone who is trying to overcome some form of loss.
Words to Describe Pain: When describing pain and suffering caused by a person
21Stressed
“My boss has been putting pressure on me to submit the reports before the previously designated deadline. It has stressed me out a lot, especially because I also have other deadlines and commitments at work.”
Stressed is a great word to use when someone who is in a position of authority, like your boss, causes you emotional distress and discomfort at work.
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22Annoyed
“My brother ruined last year’s Thanksgiving dinner by bringing up the ugly break-up that I had with my girlfriend. This annoyed me, and I actually stormed out of the house in anger because of it.”
Using the word annoyed helps to understand the triggered feelings of anger, which makes this word perfect for the purpose of describing emotional pain.
23Irritated
“The work environment should always be a place in which you can work peacefully, without any interruptions.
You can exchange ideas with your colleagues, but I always get irritated when know-it-all colleagues engage in pointless arguments that quickly lead to full-blown fights at work.”
The word irritated is great to use if you are looking for words to describe the pain that comes from feeling provoked by arguments at work. It can also be used after a family member provokes you into arguing with him/her.
24Aggravated
“Joe, who is my boss, is always looking in every person’s desk to check whether or not he/she has anything inappropriate for work. He always wants to know if you are working or accessing social media sites while at work.
He aggravated me last week by hustling me around for a minor task that I was about to complete.”
When someone at work riles you up because of a small task, the word aggravate becomes a perfect alternative to describe this frustration.
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25Upset
“I never like getting into useless arguments with my family members, so I always find myself upset when things get confrontational with family.
The bad argument that ensued after a game of monopoly, at my sister’s house last night, really upset me.”
This is a simple word to use in any situation that causes feelings of unhappiness. For example, it can be caused by a confrontation with a family member.
Conclusion
There are various appropriate words to describe the pain and suffering that come with living life. You can go through our list of words if you are looking for the best ideas on how to describe the pain that you are experiencing.
There are different words to describe pain for different situations. You can find a sample on how to use each word and an analysis of its effectiveness in this article.
