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

His ex-partner Johanna St. Michaels made an entire film about his excruciating creative process in the 2017 documentary The Inertia Variations. —Lily Moayeri, SPIN, 8 Oct. 2024

She was eventually diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), a rare neurological condition that causes excruciating sensitivity to even slight touch. —Sophie Dodd, People.com, 8 Oct. 2024

For every win, however, there is an excruciating defeat. —Rachel Brodsky, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2024

However, Redmond got up and—amid excruciating pain—limped back to the track, intending to finish the race. —Tal Frankfurt, Forbes, 12 Sep. 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