“hurt”

To cause a sharp, piercing pain, physical or emotional.

“Her offhand remark stung him far longer than she ever intended.”

Best for: Punchy and visceral; works well in both action and emotional writing.

To inflict deep injury, especially of an emotional or psychological nature.

“The betrayal wounded him in a place no doctor could ever reach.”

Best for: Elevated and weighty; suits literary fiction and formal prose.

To tear or cut jaggedly, or to distress someone's feelings severely.

“Grief lacerated her from the inside, leaving nothing untouched.”

Best for: Vivid and intense; ideal for dramatic or literary contexts.

To harm or injure, particularly through sharp criticism or withering words.

“His review scathed the young artist's confidence beyond easy repair.”

Best for: Rare in modern usage; lends an archaic, cutting edge to prose.

To cause persistent irritation or bitterness that festers over time.

“The dismissal rankled him for years, surfacing at the quietest moments.”

Best for: Best for slow-burning emotional wounds rather than sudden pain.

To strike with great force or to afflict with sudden, powerful anguish.

“Guilt smote him the instant he saw the look on his daughter's face.”

Best for: Archaic and dramatic; powerful in literary or biblical-register writing.