agonizing 1 of 3

adjective

ˈa-gə-ˌnī-ziŋ How to pronounce agonizing (audio)
Definition of agonizingnext
1
as in painful
hard to accept or bear especially emotionally agonizing cries rose up from the dungeon

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2
as in wrenching
intensely or unbearably painful died an agonizing death

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agonizing

2 of 3

noun

1
as in suffering

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2
as in indecision

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agonizing

3 of 3

verb

present participle of agonize
1
as in plaguing
to cause persistent suffering to got into more trouble, further agonizing her poor mother

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

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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 agonizing
Adjective
Our hours at Envita were pleasant — a sharp contrast with our agonizing appointments at Memorial Sloan Kettering. — Trisha Thadani Kirsten Potter Tanya Pérez Devin Murphy, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026 So, in addition to a week of bloody diarrhea, vomiting and agonizing stomachaches, there’s also the possibility of hemolytic uremic syndrome or HUS. — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2026
Noun
My agonizing over a coin toss illustrates the basic distortion that gambling exerts on spectating. — Rand Richards Cooper, Hartford Courant, 8 Jan. 2026
Verb
To your point, agonizing about everything isn’t doing me any favors. — Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 19 May 2026 Even a lot of contemporary fiction, where the scenario of characters agonizing over whether to have children has become quite common, defaults to a laconic style (very short paragraphs separated by empty space, for example) that channels the familiar wariness about lushness. — Aaron Matz, The New York Review of Books, 4 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for agonizing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for agonizing
  1. painful
  2. wrenching
  3. suffering
  4. indecision
  5. plaguing
  6. grieving
  7. harsh
  8. torturous
Adjective
  • As a young, aspiring writer, Perry yearned for dramatic, painful experiences to give her something to write about.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The album explores heartbreak, healing, faith and survival while shining a light on some of the most painful chapters of Judd's life, including her complicated relationship with her late mother Naomi Judd and Kelley's struggles.
    — Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of painful
Adjective
  • After a quiet episode focused on Hal Jordan’s passing, Lanterns’s penultimate chapter deepens the mystery in surprising and wrenching ways.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 28 Sep. 2026
  • The wrenching, heartbreaking testimony echoed through the Congressional hearing room, pulling listeners back to the raw moments of January when Good and Alex Pretti were killed.
    — WCCO Staff, CBS News, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of wrenching
Noun
  • The story is set in an idyllic community where emotional suffering has been eliminated and where every resident, on turning 18, must spend a year on Earth.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026
  • As these dopamine chasers inflict their limbic systems on every film, cheering for lizard-brain human suffering, the Olds scramble to give all that bloodlust a higher purpose, laundering it into political statements right there in the Q&A.
    — Joseph Kahn, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of suffering
Noun
  • After days of indecision, NASCAR disciplined seven people who participated in the attack on young racing star Corey Heim in front of a concession stand at Martinsville Speedway shortly after the ValleyStar Credit Union 300 on Saturday.
    — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Alex wants to hold on and let go at once, and her indecision spirals into a familiar yet attuned portrait of middle-age upheaval.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of indecision
Verb
  • This is the latest of a string of thefts plaguing France and Europe more broadly, which have made headlines since thieves broke into the Louvre in October 2025 and were able to get away with much of the country’s remaining crown jewels.
    — Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Engineers designed Talon Blue to solve the severe cost overruns and production delays currently plaguing Western militaries.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of plaguing
Verb
  • 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
  • Her unexpected passing has left fans around the world grieving.
    — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of grieving
Adjective
  • The European Commission has set an October deadline for progress in the negotiations, as France and Germany push for harsher measures.
    — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Dehydrated skin is typically caused by dry air, harsh skin care, or the weather.
    — Kara Nesvig, Allure, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of harsh
Adjective
  • The forensic pathologist who performed the autopsy on Alberto Sierra’s estranged wife and her two young daughters detailed on Friday their torturous final moments, testifying during Sierra’s death penalty trial.
    — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2026
  • In a wartorn country where air travel is too perilous to even consider, the roads are the obvious option, but are jammed, precarious, and cursed with long, torturous border queues.
    — Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of torturous

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Cite this Entry

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

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