The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 6 letter word SMARTS
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
S
M
A
R
T
S
More clues leading to the result SMARTS
- Graphics in electronic communication causes pain
- Work in texting service is painful
- Burns brains
- Woman picking up skills and intelligence in the US
- Clever clogs losing shoe, feels pain
- Feels hurt seeing pictures included in text message
- Ability and skill shown in texting
- Know how text messages contained trickery
- Is painful technique used in texting?
- Grey matter hurts
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "is painful" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case is painful = smarts.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does SMARTS mean?
SMARTS verb- To hurt or sting.
- To cause a smart or sting in.
- To feel a pungent pain of mind; to feel sharp pain or grief; be punished severely; to feel the sting of evil.
- Intelligence; smartness