excruciating
adjective
ex·cru·ci·at·ing
ik-ˈskrü-shē-ˌā-tiŋ 
1
: causing great pain or anguish : agonizing
the nation's most excruciating dilemma—
W. H. Ferry
W. H. Ferry2
: very intense : extreme
excruciating pain
Examples of excruciating in a Sentence
I have an excruciating headache.
an excruciating moment of embarrassment
They described their vacation in excruciating detail.
Recent Examples on the Web
Anderson won his first of his record 23 races in 2005 and broke his ankle in the celebrations, but the excruciating pain and eight weeks in a cast didn’t put him off.
—Don Riddell, CNN Money, 25 May 2025
This became even more imposing when, toward the end of Game Four—another one that the Knicks seemed poised to win—the Celtics star Jayson Tatum suffered an excruciating injury to his Achilles tendon and crumpled onto the hardwood, howling in pain.
—Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 22 May 2025
The next six days will be excruciating for supporters, anxious for a return to Europe’s biggest club competition, knowing failure to win will likely halt their dreams immediately and change the club’s course over the next few years.
—Harry De Cosemo, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025
Former New York Daily News reporter Frank Isola covered the Knicks for the hometown newspaper and remembers the slow and excruciating decay at Madison Square Garden.
—Mark Morales, CNN Money, 29 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for excruciating
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Don Riddell, CNN Money, 25 May 2025
This became even more imposing when, toward the end of Game Four—another one that the Knicks seemed poised to win—the Celtics star Jayson Tatum suffered an excruciating injury to his Achilles tendon and crumpled onto the hardwood, howling in pain.
—Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 22 May 2025
The next six days will be excruciating for supporters, anxious for a return to Europe’s biggest club competition, knowing failure to win will likely halt their dreams immediately and change the club’s course over the next few years.
—Harry De Cosemo, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025
Former New York Daily News reporter Frank Isola covered the Knicks for the hometown newspaper and remembers the slow and excruciating decay at Madison Square Garden.
—Mark Morales, CNN Money, 29 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for excruciating
Cite this Entry
“Excruciating.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/excruciating. Accessed 15 Jun. 2025.
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