agonizing

adjective

ag·​o·​niz·​ing ˈa-gə-ˌnī-ziŋ How to pronounce agonizing (audio)
: causing agony
agonizingly adverb

Examples of agonizing in a Sentence

a long and agonizing battle with cancer She made the agonizing decision to cancel the trip. The agonizing wait was finally over. He was in agonizing pain.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
No one wants to leave as the agonizing identification process takes place. Beomsu Jo, NBC News, 31 Dec. 2024 Despite timely access to treatment often being critical to recovery, new patients in the U.S. face an agonizing 26-day wait to see a physician on average. Max Votek, Forbes, 26 Dec. 2024 The logistics of treatment often involve stress and inconvenience that compound agonizing symptoms. Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 13 Dec. 2024 This was spelled out by the 13th and 14th Five-Year Plans, which also conceded that such reform would be agonizing. Wesley Alexander Hill, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for agonizing 

Word History

Etymology

from present participle of agonize

First Known Use

1570, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of agonizing was in 1570

Dictionary Entries Near agonizing

Cite this Entry

“Agonizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/agonizing. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.

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