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 of excruciating

• wrenching
• torturous
• agonizing
• intense
• torturing

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

Somehow, in 2025, Colin Farrell managed to star in two excruciating, absurdist, amazing-looking movies (this and Ballad of a Small Player) that make no sense. —Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2025

But the original film’s scares succeed because of their tension—how the story drags out the inevitable over nearly two excruciating hours. —The Atlantic Culture Desk, The Atlantic, 29 Oct. 2025

Ah, love triangles—is there anything more deliciously excruciating to watch onscreen? —John Ortved, Vogue, 29 Oct. 2025

The process can be excruciating for some, causing dizziness and even fainting. —Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 29 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1599, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for excruciating

• accelerating
• accentuating
• accommodating
• accumulating
• adjudicating
• administrating
• affiliating
• agglutinating
• alienating
• alleviating
• amalgamating
• ameliorating

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