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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of excruciating
Heidi Blake,
New Yorker,
8 June 2026
That might make for an excruciating private exchange between many teenagers and their mothers.
—
Donie O'Sullivan,
CNN Money,
6 June 2026
And there’s nothing more excruciating than sweating bullets while impatiently waiting for the machine to lock up, signaling the ice cream is ready to eat.
—
Josh Miller,
Southern Living,
31 May 2026
The treatment left her dealing with excruciating side effects for months, including a bout of pneumonia that forced her to spend Christmas in the hospital.
—
Vanessa Etienne,
PEOPLE,
29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for excruciating
Adjective
For Tate’s accusers, the long wait had been excruciating.
—
Heidi Blake,
New Yorker,
8 June 2026
That might make for an excruciating private exchange between many teenagers and their mothers.
—
Donie O'Sullivan,
CNN Money,
6 June 2026
And there’s nothing more excruciating than sweating bullets while impatiently waiting for the machine to lock up, signaling the ice cream is ready to eat.
—
Josh Miller,
Southern Living,
31 May 2026
The treatment left her dealing with excruciating side effects for months, including a bout of pneumonia that forced her to spend Christmas in the hospital.
—
Vanessa Etienne,
PEOPLE,
29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for excruciating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for excruciating
Adjective
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His most wrenching scene, when Stagg receives a devastating personal call but cannot react amid the intense geopolitical stakes, captured this tension.
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Another wrenching question, of course, is whether at least the younger Perez siblings would want or need to go with Olga to Guatemala if she were deported.
Adjective
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That has given players an opportunity to rest and recover ahead of the next fixture, but some of those games have taken place in searing heat, which will have had its effect on players, especially if they are not used to playing in that climate.
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But the street parties also come after months of scrutiny as FIFA has faced searing criticism across the globe for soaring World Cup ticket prices.
Adjective
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However, Ukraine’s successes have highlighted its ability to inflict painful damage on Russia and change the course of the conflict while Moscow’s advances recently have ground to a near halt.
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California’s already-high electricity rates have increased far faster than inflation, threaten progress on climate change and pose painful affordability burdens on residents and businesses, the Berkeley report said.
Adjective
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Katherine Guaramaco described the experience as one of the most intense of her life.
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The president highlighted the military operation in Iran that has proven deeply unpopular, and an immigration agenda that has provoked intense backlash.
Verb
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Different aspects can make downtowns undesirable and several issues have been plaguing cities on both sides of the Atlantic recently.
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For one, the blue material likely has no direct relation to the large algal blooms that are also plaguing the monument, according to Tim Auerhahn, chairman of the Aquatic Council.
Adjective
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As part of her job, Angèle needs to daub makeup on the models’ feet, blistered from the torturous heels they’re forced to wear.
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The film tells the story of Greek hero Odysseus’ long, torturous and fantastical trip home from the Trojan War, back to the Kingdom of Ithaca to save his wife and son.
Adjective
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Summer 2026 is having a tough time deciding on this season’s dominating nail trend.
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These are typically low-wage jobs that the healthcare industry writ large has had a tough time recruiting for since the pandemic.
Adjective
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Plant magnolias somewhere they will be protected from harsh winds, especially when buds or flowers are developing.
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Most clarifying shampoos tend to be a little harsh and drying, but this one is gentle and nourishing.
Cite this Entry
“Excruciating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/excruciating. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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