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Definitions

take pains

VERB
bother
Synonyms
STRONGEST
try worry about
WEAK
be concerned about concern oneself exert oneself fuss over go out of one's way make a fuss about make an effort put oneself out
Antonyms
WEAK
aid help ignore neglect please
VERB
care
Synonyms
STRONGEST
attend nurse nurture protect tend watch
STRONG
father mind minister mother pay attention to
WEAK
baby sit keep an eye on keep tabs on look after mind the store provide for ride herd on wait on watch over
Antonyms
STRONGEST
ignore neglect
STRONG
disregard forget hurt injure
WEAK
dislike hate not care
VERB
concern
Synonyms
STRONGEST
bother disturb interest involve perturb regard trouble worry
STRONG
disquiet distress touch
WEAK
apply to be relevant to bear on become involved make anxious make uneasy pertain to
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aid calm help ignore please reassure soothe
WEAK
unconcern
VERB
endeavor
Synonyms
STRONGEST
aspire bid for strive undertake
STRONG
address aim apply assay buck determine dig essay grind hassle hump hustle intend labor offer plug purpose push risk scratch seek strain struggle sweat try venture
WEAK
do one's best drive at go for go for broke hammer away have a crack have a shot at have a swing at make a run at make an effort peg away pour it on take on
Antonyms
STRONGEST
forget
STRONG
conceal hide idle ignore laze neglect overlook pass rest withhold
WEAK
be idle procrastinate put off
VERB
fight
Synonyms
STRONGEST
argue combat continue engage in force maintain oppose resist support
STRONG
bicker buck conduct contest defy dispute effect endure further hassle persevere persist prosecute repel row squabble strive struggle travail traverse uphold wage withstand wrangle
WEAK
buckle down carry on exert oneself fall out hammer away lay into light into make a stand against push forward put up an argument spare no effort stand up to take on tangle with toil on
Antonyms
STRONGEST
agree comply ignore let go neglect surrender
STRONG
cease concur forget give in give up halt idle leave quit stop yield
WEAK
believe make peace uphold
VERB
trouble
Synonyms
STRONG
exert
WEAK
be concerned with go to the effort of take the time
Antonyms
WEAK
aid assist be content be happy help

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.

Fed officials didn’t always take pains to communicate with the markets and the public.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 3, 2026

The people interviewed take pains to compliment Mr. Chase, though even a longtime collaborator like Alan Zweibel, who wrote for “SNL,” can’t repair 50 years of bad vibes.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 30, 2025

But both Nick and Ginny take pains to declare it’s not like that.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2025

In addition, “the crowd” has some degree of culpability, though some of the Gospels take pains to highlight that this crowd was stirred up by the religious leaders.

From Salon • May 3, 2024

They take pains to explain that ants are not, emphatically not, tiny mechanical models of human beings.

From "The Lives of a Cell" by Lewis Thomas