1
as in wrenching
intensely or unbearably painful
he finally visited the doctor when the pain became too excruciating to ignore
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2
as in searing
difficult to endure
the excruciating heat that the settlers faced as they crossed the deserts of the Southwest
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3
as in painful
hard to accept or bear especially emotionally
most excruciating of all was the endless wait for news of any survivors of the plane crash
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4
as in intense
extreme in degree, power, or effect
the excruciating grief they felt upon the loss of their dear grandfather
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as in plaguing
to cause persistent suffering to
she has long been excruciated by an undiagnosed pain in her knee
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of excruciating
Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2024
Seeing the photo of Scarlett taken shortly before her death was, at first, excruciating, Jensen says.
—Virginia Chamlee, People.com, 17 Oct. 2024
The trials of Jones and Trone in the 1990s were just excruciating.
—Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2024
From the excruciating sting of the tarantula hawk wasp to the potentially life-threatening bite of the Western Diamondback Rattlesnake, the state is home to a variety of insects, arachnids, and reptiles capable of delivering intense pain or potent venom.
—Tiffany Acosta, The Arizona Republic, 25 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for excruciating 
Adjective
No wonder he’s considered the greatest Dodgers pitcher of all time and no wonder he was forced to retire a year later because of excruciating arm pain.
—Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2024
Seeing the photo of Scarlett taken shortly before her death was, at first, excruciating, Jensen says.
—Virginia Chamlee, People.com, 17 Oct. 2024
The trials of Jones and Trone in the 1990s were just excruciating.
—Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2024
From the excruciating sting of the tarantula hawk wasp to the potentially life-threatening bite of the Western Diamondback Rattlesnake, the state is home to a variety of insects, arachnids, and reptiles capable of delivering intense pain or potent venom.
—Tiffany Acosta, The Arizona Republic, 25 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for excruciating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for excruciating
Adjective
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This searing manual deconstructs the subgenre and the process that goes into contributing to it, bringing the study thereof into a whole new era of experimentation and boundary dissolution.Tyler Thier, JSTOR Daily, 21 Oct. 2024
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Tarantula hawk wasp The tarantula hawk wasp's sting is often described as a searing electric shock that can incapacitate its victim temporarily.Tiffany Acosta, The Arizona Republic, 25 Sep. 2024
Adjective
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Ryan McLean, a New York City fireman who donated bone marrow to a three-year-old child in 2022, says the process was quick and easy, not painful and with a long recovery period as donors are often led to believe.Pia Velasco, Vogue, 4 Nov. 2024
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The impact was profound and Jones said he was left with painful memories of the trips to the psychiatric hospital, unsure exactly why his mother couldn’t come home with him.Steve Marble, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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The vote came amid a moment of intense political debate about inflation.Grant Stringer, The Mercury News, 9 Nov. 2024
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The stakes have never been higher — and the pressure has never been more intense.The Arizona Republic, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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According to the political scientist Pierre Englebert, the Congolese government and people lose as much as $4 billion in revenue every year due to state agents’ manipulation of mining contracts and payments, torturous budget practices, and outright theft.Stephen R. Weissman, Foreign Affairs, 8 June 2015
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The right boots, however, can make previously torturous bell-to-bell days no big deal.Drew Zieff, Outside Online, 9 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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Bosa confirmed Wednesday that playing through a hip injury last game was the toughest pain he’s endured in 5 1/2 seasons.Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 15 Nov. 2024
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The Buffs need to find a way to grind out tough yards on the ground, especially late.Kyle Newman, The Denver Post, 15 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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There are also more-than-adequate storage spaces in the large center console annd all four doors. CHANGE: The ride quality The ride quality is a little harsher in the Sorento than in some of its competitors, especially with the 20-inch wheels and lower profile tires the tester came equipped with.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
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Trump’s comments on Taiwan have been unusually harsh for China policy in Washington, where there is a general bipartisan consensus to be tough on Beijing and Xi, who has pledged to reunify with Taipei, by force if necessary.Brad Dress, The Hill, 2 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Tester feedback: Allure commerce writer Jennifer Hussein says this finishing spray is a staple in her routine for its weightless feel and intensive oil control.Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 4 Nov. 2024
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Beyond traditional panels, the conference offers intensive masterclasses in authentic storytelling and a hands-on hackathon where participants tackle real-world DEI challenges.Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 3 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Whatever's afflicting you out there, in here the coffee is always hot, the fries are always crispy and the ranch dip is always free.Tyler Buchanan, Axios, 18 Oct. 2024
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Something is genuinely off about the goings-on at the conference, from strange deaths and elevators that suddenly aren’t elevators, to a rash of scabby infections afflicting guests and the discovery of a subterranean tunnel.Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near excruciating
Cite this Entry
“Excruciating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/excruciating. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
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