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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
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 agonizing
Tyler Foggatt, The New Yorker, 23 Mar. 2025
There are differing accounts of the agonizing dispute as residents and their homeowners association tried to stop the new condo.
—Linda Robertson, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2025
One in two children under 5 are acutely malnourished; over 537,000 suffer from severe acute malnutrition, a condition that is agonizing, life-threatening and entirely preventable.
—Sarah Ferguson, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
Sometimes, that madness is due to some brutal blunders that result in agonizing losses.
—Scott Thompson, Fox News, 16 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for agonizing
Adjective
Then, after an agonizing review, involving super-slow-motion replays and the analysis of multiple camera angles, the refs determined, more than two minutes later, that the ball had brushed a Tech player’s pinkie on the way out.
—Tyler Foggatt, The New Yorker, 23 Mar. 2025
There are differing accounts of the agonizing dispute as residents and their homeowners association tried to stop the new condo.
—Linda Robertson, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2025
One in two children under 5 are acutely malnourished; over 537,000 suffer from severe acute malnutrition, a condition that is agonizing, life-threatening and entirely preventable.
—Sarah Ferguson, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
Sometimes, that madness is due to some brutal blunders that result in agonizing losses.
—Scott Thompson, Fox News, 16 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for agonizing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for agonizing
Adjective
-
This is especially painful for individuals who are approaching Medicare eligibility, as a conversion might result in substantially higher premiums for Medicare Part B and Part D prescription coverage.—
Darla Mercado, CFP®,
CNBC,
17 Apr. 2025
-
But amidst this painful reality, a story rooted in joy, agency, and radical self-determination is emerging.—
Stephanie Long,
Essence,
17 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Sigmon chose the firing squad due to concerns about the prolonged suffering the three other inmates had faced when they were killed by lethal injection, King said.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
11 Apr. 2025
-
People are feeling the pain and the suffering more than ever.—
Kellen Browning,
New York Times,
11 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
William Jackson Harper’s character, Chidi, with all his moral dilemmas and indecision, helps guide her, but in turn, learns to be more decisive through Eleanor’s impulsive courage.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
18 Apr. 2025
-
Sanders is a sensitive topic in the Giants building, which reflects the organization’s indecision and ongoing deliberation about him.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
16 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Bereavement hallucinations—intensely vivid encounters with the deceased—are reported by as many as half of all grieving people.—
Adam Gopnik,
The New Yorker,
24 Mar. 2025
-
The Catalan feature tells the stories of Anabel and her mother, Delia, who are grieving for Julián, Anabel’s father.—
Jamie Lang,
Variety,
22 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Hope reigns even in this harsh political climate we Americans are now experiencing.—
Bea L. Hines,
Miami Herald,
17 Apr. 2025
-
Even if investors are slightly more confident this week, after Trump backed off most of his harshest tariff rates, the changes in people’s life-style habits serve as their own kind of affective barometer.—
Kyle Chayka,
New Yorker,
16 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Before embarking on an NBA career that's already filled with exhilarating highs and torturous lows, Pritchard helped lead the Oregon Ducks to their first Final Four appearance since the inaugural NCAA men's basketball tournament.—
Bobby Krivitsky,
Forbes.com,
16 Apr. 2025
-
This is like one of Larry David's torturous self-debates on Curb Your Enthusiasm, but without his perverse genius, his wheedling, preening hostility.—
Tom Gliatto,
People.com,
26 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
The source of hesitation is President Trump’s latest tariffs, which, as announced earlier this month, included a 46% tax on imports from Vietnam, the country’s eighth-largest trading partner.—
Stephanie Yang,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Apr. 2025
-
Studies show that financial trauma can lead to avoidance behaviors, chronic underinvestment, and hesitation in wealth-building strategies even among women who appear financially stable on paper.—
Alejandra Rojas,
Forbes.com,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Wiz could be a turning point for an uncertain IPO market and a mergers and acquisitions environment aching from a slowdown in deal activity.—
Samantha Subin,
CNBC,
24 Mar. 2025
-
In fact, this iteration is a lighter and more cushioned version, with a level of support and shock absorption that ensures your feet are not aching after a day of sightseeing.—
Kristin Braswell,
Travel + Leisure,
20 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Agonizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/agonizing. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share