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

Lambert is the Astros’ most consistent starter, even if Thursday’s excruciating outing did not suggest as much. — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026

The threat to major oil companies that employ up to 100,000 workers must have been excruciating until vaccines eventually appeared to stem the tide. — Ian Dexter Palmer, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026

Graphic autopsy photos shown in court Before McDonald brought emotion to the witness stand, the day began with some testimony that appeared excruciating for the Shakur family. — Andy Rose, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026

Also, splitting the bill at the end of the evening is excruciating. — Judith Martin, Mercury News, 12 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1599, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for excruciating

• abdicating
• abrogating
• activating
• actuating
• advocating
• aggravating
• aggregating
• agitating
• allocating
• alternating
• animating
• annotating

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