adj
Uncommon
hurtful
HURT-fuul
Hurtful (adj) means causing emotional pain, especially by being unkind or insulting. Example: “His hurtful comments about her work stung for days.”
adj
1
Causing emotional pain, especially by being unkind or insulting.
"His hurtful comments about her work stung for days."
"It was a hurtful thing to say in front of everyone."
How to use hurtful
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething said or done that causes emotional pain.
Common pairings
hurtful words
hurtful comment
deeply hurtful
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more hurtful
- Superlative
- most hurtful
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
His _____ comments about her work stung for days.
Etymology
Formed from hurt plus the adjective suffix -ful.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “hurtful” mean?
The word “hurtful” means causing emotional pain, especially by being unkind or insulting. In plain terms, something said or done that causes emotional pain.
How do you pronounce “hurtful”?
“Hurtful” is pronounced HURT-fuul (/ˈhɜɹtfʊl/ in IPA).
How do you use “hurtful” in a sentence?
Here is “hurtful” used in a sentence: “His hurtful comments about her work stung for days.”
What part of speech is “hurtful”?
“Hurtful” is an adjective.
Is “hurtful” a common word?
“Hurtful” is an uncommon word in modern English.
