schmerzlicher

Schmerzlicher is a German adjective used in the comparative to express greater pain or distress. It can describe physical suffering, emotional hurt, or moral gravity, and is frequently found in formal, literary, or solemn contexts. In everyday speech, speakers may use other intensifiers such as schmerzhafter or schmerzlich, depending on nuance, but schmerzlicher remains a standard option for heightened emphasis.

Grammatical notes: As a comparative adjective, schmerzlicher inflects for gender, number, and case like other German adjectives. It is often used attributively before a noun, as in ein schmerzlicher Verlust, or predicatively after a linking verb, as in der Schmerz ist schmerzlicher geworden. The term covers both physical and emotional pain and can express intensity, depth of feeling, or regret.

Etymology and related terms: Schmerzlicher is formed from the noun Schmerz (pain) and the descriptive suffix -lich in German, belonging to a family with schwärzlich, schmerzhaft and schmerzlich. It appears in standard German, with a tone that tends toward the formal, literary, or careful mode of expression. Its use helps convey a higher degree of pain or distress than other, less intense adjectives.