adjective
-
not causing pain or distress
-
not affected by pain
Other Word Forms
- painlessly adverb
- painlessness noun
Etymology
Origin of painless
Explanation
Anything that's painless doesn't hurt at all. A painless medical procedure (like having blood drawn) might be a little scary, but it's actually very easy. Getting your teeth cleaned at the dentist should be a painless process, although getting a filling sometimes hurts a little bit. A painless math test is simple and requires very little work or thought on your part — this is a figurative way to use painless, obviously, since no one would expect a math test to cause you physical pain, even if it's not your strongest subject.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Consumer advocates have been calling for something similar to IRS Direct File for decades, pointing with exasperation to supposedly forward-thinking European countries like the Netherlands, where tax filing is automatic and painless.
From Barron's • Apr. 6, 2026
To study these changes, the team relied on two painless techniques that can be used while a person rests quietly.
From Science Daily • Feb. 24, 2026
It is harmless, painless and does not affect vision.
From BBC • Jan. 20, 2026
Mr. Bailey is a gentle guide, frequently reassuring readers that his advice is uncomplicated and painless to implement.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 1, 2026
Man attempting to climb to painless heights from his dung hill.
From "Their Eyes Were Watching God" by Zora Neale Hurston
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.