WordGarden.io
Back to search

painlessly

C2
adverb

Pronunciation

UK

  • /pˈeɪnləsli/

US

  • /ˈpeɪnləsli/

Description

This word describes an action that happens without pain, trouble, or much difficulty. You might use it for something physical, like a doctor removing a splinter in a gentle way. You can also use it for changes or tasks that happen more easily than expected. If someone moves into a new job painlessly, it suggests the change felt smooth and did not bring the usual stress or problems.

Examples

  1. 1

    Medical care

    The nurse removed the bandage painlessly.

  2. 2

    Injection

    The injection was done quickly and almost painlessly.

  3. 3

    Digital transfer

    With the right app, we transferred all the photos painlessly.

  4. 4

    Business systems

    The company switched to the new system surprisingly painlessly.

  5. 5

    Difficult news

    She explained the bad news as painlessly as possible.

See also

adverbwith little or no difficulty, trouble, or distress

Similar

Shades of meaning

Contrast

Used with (collocations)

  • go painlessly
  • proceed painlessly
  • as painlessly as possible

Word family

Explore

  • hassle-free
  • frictionless

Forms and spellings

1 form open this card.

Main spelling

  • painlesslyadverb