agonizing

adjective

ag·​o·​niz·​ing ˈa-gə-ˌnī-ziŋ How to pronounce agonizing (audio)
Synonyms of agonizingnext
: causing agony
an agonizing injury
agonizingly adverb

Examples of agonizing in a Sentence

a long and agonizing battle with cancer She made the agonizing decision to cancel the trip. The agonizing wait was finally over. He was in agonizing pain.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Democrats, who have run the state for years, are publicly agonizing over the possibility they may be shut out of the general election in November. ABC News, 13 Apr. 2026 Marketing executive Mathew Evins lived with chronic back pain for eight agonizing years. Susan Spencer, CBS News, 12 Apr. 2026 The show did not overtly discuss the agonizing circumstances facing the Guthrie family. Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 6 Apr. 2026 No easy options to cut Medicaid While nearly everyone accepts that cutting Medicaid is inevitable, the choices for how to do it can be agonizing. Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 5 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for agonizing

Word History

Etymology

from present participle of agonize

First Known Use

1570, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of agonizing was in 1570

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Cite this Entry

“Agonizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/agonizing. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.

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