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Definition of painfully adverb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

painfully

adverb
 
/ˈpeɪnfəli/
 
/ˈpeɪnfəli/
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  1. extremely, and in a way that makes you feel annoyed, upset, etc.
    • Their son was painfully shy.
    • The dog was painfully thin.
    • He was painfully aware of his lack of experience.
    • Progress has been painfully slow.
  2. in a way that causes you physical or emotional pain
    • He banged his knee painfully against the desk.
    Topics Health problemsb1
  3. with a lot of effort and difficulty
    • painfully acquired experience
See painfully in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary
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noun
 
 
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