as in weeping
expressing or suggesting mourning
one look at his agonized, tearful eyes and it was clear that something was terribly wrong
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in plagued
to cause persistent suffering to
got into more trouble, further agonizing her poor mother
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in grieved
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 agonized
Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2024
David Foster Wallace’s titular Depressed Person dwindles into existential nothingness, a speck of dust in the vacuum of her agonized solipsism.
—Jia Tolentino, The New Yorker, 25 Sep. 2024
There’s ongoing catharsis in the powerful expression of this sometimes personally agonized material, whoever wrote all of it, as the sing-and scream-alongs would indicate.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 13 Sep. 2024
Researchers suggest that the woman may have been afflicted by a rare muscle reaction at the moment of death that immortalized her agonized expression.
—Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Aug. 2024
See All Example Sentences for agonized
Adjective
This time, Trump was not the subject of agonized debate among the billionaires.
—Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2024
David Foster Wallace’s titular Depressed Person dwindles into existential nothingness, a speck of dust in the vacuum of her agonized solipsism.
—Jia Tolentino, The New Yorker, 25 Sep. 2024
There’s ongoing catharsis in the powerful expression of this sometimes personally agonized material, whoever wrote all of it, as the sing-and scream-alongs would indicate.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 13 Sep. 2024
Researchers suggest that the woman may have been afflicted by a rare muscle reaction at the moment of death that immortalized her agonized expression.
—Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Aug. 2024
See All Example Sentences for agonized
Recent Examples of Synonyms for agonized
Adjective
-
And every day, across from them, outside the clinic, about to enter or just leaving, there were women hugging each other and weeping.—
David Mamet,
National Review,
11 Aug. 2022
-
The show manages to stay on the brink — always laughing, never quite weeping — for its entire length.—
Helen Shaw,
Vulture,
8 Dec. 2021
Adjective
-
The backstory for the maze follows the mournful tale of Mary Worth following the tragic death of her family.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
20 Aug. 2025
-
Soon she’s caught up in a supernatural murder mystery involving fatally beaky crows; dealing with an obsessive, disturbingly round-eyed fan (Evie Templeton); and bickering with mother Morticia (Catherine Zeta-Jones, who tends to strike a quiet note that seems almost genuinely mournful).—
Tom Gliatto,
People.com,
6 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The people of Oklahoma and Grady County in particular mourned his passing.—
Richard Selcer,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
15 Mar. 2025
-
In response to the video, some social media users mourned the decline of PlayPlaces and similar play areas.—
Raja Krishnamoorthi,
Newsweek,
13 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Adams leads the cast as Marianne, a heartbroken, struggling young painter who escapes to the countryside with her best friends — Lila (Nell Williams, A24’s Huntington) and Betty (Jessamine-Bliss Bell, Bodies) — for what should be a healing retreat.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
28 Aug. 2025
-
Continue reading … 'PRAYERS TO EVERYBODY' – Minnesota Timberwolves star Julius Randle said news of the horrific shooting that left at least two people dead and 17 others injured at a church in his team's home city left him heartbroken.—
Staff,
FOXNews.com,
28 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Ringo was yellow submarines and octopus gardens, the mascot little brother, despite being the eldest Beatle, and the best at flittering above the feuds that afflicted the trio of geniuses around him.—
Mark Leibovich,
The Atlantic,
31 Mar. 2025
-
Unfortunately, this fresh ailment has afflicted him for the majority of his 2024-25 run.—
Paul Du Quenoy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
And while high-fashion people are also known for their fondness for black outfits, this black feels a little more funeral black than everyday black.—
Kathleen Walsh,
Glamour,
20 Aug. 2025
-
However, funeral arrangements for Henderson have yet to be announced.—
Haadiza Ogwude,
The Enquirer,
2 July 2025
Verb
-
In recent months, the Kennedy Center has been besieged by performance cancelations both voluntary and involuntary.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
26 Mar. 2025
-
At the start of the invasion, Russian troops besieged the city, forcing residents to endure harsh winter conditions without electricity or water under constant shelling from Russian artillery, missiles and drones.—
Illia Novikov,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
At the time, Gates’s message barely registered, whereas the speeches this spring led to a prolonged cycle of anguished debate.—
Joshua Yaffa,
New Yorker,
23 June 2025
-
The vice president’s anguished and inordinately diplomatic communiqué read like a love letter to two feuding parents.—
Noah Rothman,
National Review,
18 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Agonized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/agonized. Accessed 4 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share