1
as in painful
hard to accept or bear especially emotionally
agonizing cries rose up from the dungeon
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in wrenching
intensely or unbearably painful
died an agonizing death
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in suffering
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in indecision
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in plaguing
to cause persistent suffering to
got into more trouble, further agonizing her poor mother
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of agonizing
Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Feb. 2025
Social media is filled with quips and notes about the agonizing ways in which the show nails the corporate experience.
—Leah Asmelash, CNN, 21 Mar. 2025
Coming to grips with what happened has been agonizing.
—Christine Pelisek, People.com, 17 Mar. 2025
Being with or around someone with an addiction is agonizing and often is a constant worry and concern for their well-being and safety.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for agonizing
Adjective
McIlroy shot 2-over 74 during an agonizing day with the putter.
—Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Feb. 2025
Social media is filled with quips and notes about the agonizing ways in which the show nails the corporate experience.
—Leah Asmelash, CNN, 21 Mar. 2025
Coming to grips with what happened has been agonizing.
—Christine Pelisek, People.com, 17 Mar. 2025
Being with or around someone with an addiction is agonizing and often is a constant worry and concern for their well-being and safety.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for agonizing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for agonizing
Adjective
-
The overstressed tissue, either along your arch or right next to your heel, can then sustain tiny tears and become irritated, inflamed, and painful.—
Cindy Kuzma,
SELF,
4 Apr. 2025
-
However, Trump has described his policies as a painful yet necessary step to encourage companies to relocate their operations to the United States.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
4 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Poet Hutchinson’s essays swoosh and roll like the sea that has surrounded and molded his life and art, from his beginnings in Jamaica to his coastal journeys on to his belief that ocean waters ultimately connect us all through suffering and joy.—
Bethanne Patrick,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Apr. 2025
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Advocates also maintain that euthanasia and assisted suicide not only prevent further suffering, but also safeguard an individual’s dignity by avoiding senseless pain and severely diminished quality of life.—
Mathew Schmalz,
The Conversation,
31 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
That moment of indecision can be enough for whoever the Bruins are playing to exploit Mittelstadt’s hesitation.—
Fluto Shinzawa,
New York Times,
28 Mar. 2025
-
After a bout of excruciating indecision, Bachelor Grant Ellis finally made his choice between Litia and Juliana in the season 29 finale.—
Kristen Baldwin,
EW.com,
25 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Ward, 28, missed four games while grieving her death.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
29 Dec. 2024
-
The Christmas Eve shooting also devastated the still-grieving Oxford community, where a teenage gunman went on a rampage at Oxford High School in November 2021, killing four classmates and seven others, including a teacher.—
Tresa Baldas,
Detroit Free Press,
29 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Donald Trump defended his harsh new tariffs on Saturday Night Live this week — and maybe took a swipe at last week’s musical guest, too.—
Dave Nemetz,
TVLine,
5 Apr. 2025
-
Never one for details, Trump is now clearly linking the harsh 54% tariffs imposed on China on Tuesday to a TikTok deal.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Their relocation will mark the end of a long, and often torturous, journey for the club that began almost 25 years ago.—
Tom Burrows,
The Athletic,
23 Mar. 2025
-
Now, five years after the declaration of a worldwide COVID-19 pandemic and three years past seeing how torturous a death the virus can bring, Shaver says the experience gave her a new perspective on life.—
Tammy Ljungblad,
Kansas City Star,
22 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Issues related to social justice, politics, sustainability, and mental health regularly intersect with entertainment stories, placing celebrities under pressure to publicly take stances on divisive topics, often without room for error or hesitation.—
Ethan Stone,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2025
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Consumer Confidence Is Still in Retreat Even as prices have started to ease, consumer hesitation lingers.—
Stephanie Gravalese,
Forbes.com,
1 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The imagery of The Pink Opaque’s Midnight Realm is frightening, but the potent themes and aching nostalgia are what will keep you up at night.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
19 Dec. 2024
-
Risotto, in other words, is governed by a set of laws that are rooted in tradition, rich in common sense, and aching to be broken or bent.—
Anthony Lane,
The New Yorker,
16 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Agonizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/agonizing. Accessed 9 Apr. 2025.
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