agonize

verb

ˈa-gə-ˌnīz How to pronounce agonize (audio)
Definition of agonizenext
1
as in to persecute
to cause persistent suffering to got into more trouble, further agonizing her poor mother

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to grieve
to feel deep sadness or mental pain agonized for days over whether she'd done the right thing

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of agonize During deliberation, Commissioner Martinez openly agonized over Kissimmee’s dilemma. — Sara-James Ranta, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Aug. 2026 Samuel agonized the most after getting hit on a screen at the 5-yard line, apparently as his funny bone shot pain through his left arm. — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 16 Aug. 2026 In college, players, coaches and fans agonize over wins and losses. — Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 14 July 2026 Les Snead agonized over including defensive rookie of the year Jared Verse in the trade for Myles Garrett, but ultimately decided to make the move. — Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for agonize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for agonize
  1. persecute
  2. grieve
  3. plague
  4. mourn
  5. afflict
  6. ache
  7. torture
  8. sigh
Verb
  • Those governments provide assurances that people won’t be persecuted or tortured, federal attorneys said.
    — Lindsay Whitehurst, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Also, some immigration cases involve people seeking asylum because they are being persecuted by a foreign government and releasing a person’s full name could be considered sensitive or even dangerous.
    — Laura Tillman, Hartford Courant, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of persecute
Verb
  • Pi-o grieves the death of his friend, unable to get out of bed for days.
    — Kayti Burt, Time, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Shane Thomson, the high-risk security adviser who warned Hall, Zakrzewski and Kuvshynova not to go beyond the Kyiv city limits, joined the grieving parents in their lawsuit against Fox and Hall.
    — David Folkenflik, NPR, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of grieve
Verb
  • As people suffer the effects of disease, the vampire rises to plague our nightmares.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Based on its survey work, Morgan Stanley believes the issues that plagued the second quarter was macro related and not something structurally tied to the TJX brand.
    — Jeff Marks, CNBC, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of plague
Verb
  • In a statement later on Saturday, the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem mourned Maisa Abu Dawoud and her daughter, Mary, extending condolences to their family.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 4 Oct. 2026
  • As federal investigators try to determine the cause of the crash, island residents are mourning the dead and confronting the trade-offs of life so isolated from the rest of Southern California.
    — Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of mourn
Verb
  • Engineers have also taken steps to ensure that a CFT-like thruster anomaly doesn't afflict future Starliner flights.
    — Mike Wall, Space.com, 28 Sep. 2026
  • While the epicenter was located in Nantou County in central Taiwan, serious damage afflicted residents across the island as roads buckled, bridges collapsed and landslides destroyed everything in their path.
    — Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of afflict
Verb
  • Many infected people don’t get sick, but some experience fever, flu-like symptoms and — notoriously — aches.
    — Mike Stobbe, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026
  • My teeth ached and my pulse raced just walking into this everyday Halloween.
    — Justin Davidson, Curbed, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of ache
Verb
  • Some veterans say recruiters deceived them and Haitian authorities tortured them; their families call them scapegoats.
    — Astrid Suárez, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Alas, Hersh was to miss the flight because he was still being held hostage, starving, tortured, and surviving on that date in terrifying confinement.
    — Rachel Goldberg-Polin, Time, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of torture
Verb
  • Lifting a stem of cauliflower to his lips, my brother sighs deeply.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2026
  • With that, the Australian reporters sighed and smiled and the underdog-loving fans here likely will as well.
    — Vic Tafur, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of sigh

Browse Nearby Words

agonistic
agonize
agonized
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Cite this Entry

“Agonize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/agonize. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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