If something is
harmful to something else or somebody, it means that it
causes damage or
harm to it: drinking too much alcohol may be harmful to your health; sunbathing all day long in the sun may be harmful to your skin etc..
If something is
hurtful, it mean that, if memeory serves me well, it's
unkind and
impolite. Words can be hurtful. When somebody calls you names (wyzywa CiÄ™), it will certainly hurt your feeling, and that's why it's hurtful to hear.
Injurious, to me, is a formal equivalent to 'harmful'. "injurious effects", "injurious to health". Damaging.
Painful can relate to a physical pain and mental one as well. "Is your back still painful?" "a painful experience".
It has got one additional meaning. When something is enoying or difficult to deal with and it takes a lot of effort it is painful. It's trying.
Wait for what others have to say though.
edytowany przez grudziu: 12 cze 2013