agonizing

1 of 2

adjective

ag·​o·​niz·​ing ˈa-gə-ˌnī-ziŋ 

: causing agony

an agonizing injury

agonizingly adverb

agonizing

2 of 2

present participle of agonize

Synonyms of agonizing

Adjective

• painful
• harsh
• torturous
• cruel

Examples of agonizing in a Sentence

Adjective

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

Adjective

Inside, under flickering lights, a group of reluctant strangers is coaxed into acting out, in a converted gymnasium, a wild tale promising redemption from agonizing tragedy. — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026

But away from these miraculous rescues, the death toll continues to rise – two bodies were recovered from the same site where Lu was found – and other families are still enduring an agonizing wait for news of missing relatives. — Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 5 Sep. 2026

Two yearshave passed since then, and the country has faced agonizing struggles to achieve recovery andfinally return to normalcy. — Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 1 Sep. 2026

Singh declined to reveal more information about the judge who considered an alternative ruling, but the judge recalled feeling gripped by fear and agonizing for nearly an hour before sticking with the decision the law required. — ABC News, 1 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

from present participle of agonize

First Known Use

Adjective

1570, in the meaning defined above