excruciating

adjective

ex·​cru·​ci·​at·​ing ik-ˈskrü-shē-ˌā-tiŋ 

1

: causing great pain or anguish : agonizing

the nation's most excruciating dilemma

—W. H. Ferry

2

: very intense : extreme

excruciating pain

excruciatingly

ik-ˈskrü-shē-ˌā-tiŋ-lē 

adverb

Synonyms

• agonizing
• harrowing
• racking
• raging
• tormenting
• torturing
• torturous
• wrenching

Examples of excruciating in a Sentence

I have an excruciating headache.

an excruciating moment of embarrassment

They described their vacation in excruciating detail.

Recent Examples on the Web

Babies infected in the womb can be born in excruciating pain, with deformed bones, brain damage or other serious complications. —Anna Maria Barry-Jester, ProPublica, 7 May 2024

Just listen to the 30 songs on Taylor Swift’s Tortured Poets Department describing Matty Healy’s (alleged) crimes in excruciating detail. —Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 3 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1599, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

excruciating

adjective

ex·​cru·​ci·​at·​ing

ik-ˈskrü-shē-ˌāt-iŋ

1

: causing great mental or physical pain : agonizing

excruciating torture

an excruciating decision to leave

2

: very severe

excruciating pain

excruciatingly

-iŋ-lē

adverb

Etymology

derived from Latin excruciatus, past participle of excruciare "to torture," from ex- "out of, from" and cruciare "to torment, crucify," from cruc-, crux "cross" — related to cross, crucial, crucify