Hurtful
'hɜːrtfəl
Definitions
2 meaningsCausing emotional pain; offensive or unkind.
'hɜːrtfəl
Causing emotional pain or distress.
His words were hurtful to her.
💡 Simply: If something is hurtful, it makes someone feel sad or upset, like when someone says mean things.
👶 For kids: Something hurtful makes you feel sad.
More Examples
The comments made online were extremely hurtful.
It was a hurtful experience to be left out.
How It's Used
"The hurtful things she said really affected him."
"His hurtful actions strained their friendship."
Causing physical injury or pain (less common usage).
'hɜːrtfəl
Causing physical injury.
The fall was hurtful; she broke her arm.
💡 Simply: Describes something that can cause a physical injury or pain.
👶 For kids: Something hurtful can make your body feel owie.
More Examples
The pressure on the wound was hurtful.
How It's Used
"The treatment's side effects were hurtful, causing physical discomfort."
From Middle English *hurtful*, equivalent to hurt + -ful. 'Hurt' comes from Old English *hyrtan*, meaning to strike or wound. The suffix '-ful' indicates 'full of' or 'characterized by'.
The word has maintained its core meaning across centuries, although the intensity and context of its use have evolved with social norms. Historically, its use in religious texts and moral treatises is noticeable.
Memory tip
Imagine a heart (hurt) filled with pain. -ful means full of.