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

After cutting edge surgery Angela Sutphin is without excruciating pain in her right arm and can get a full night’s sleep. —Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 20 June 2025

The disease, which has no cure, is known to cause excruciating pain and fatigue, and can lead to serious complications, including strokes, lung problems and organ damage. —Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 19 June 2025

The anomaly can cause blood clots, organ damage and excruciating pain, which can worsen during the menstrual cycle. —Zinhle Essamuah, NBC news, 11 June 2025

The resulting pain is excruciating, as is the story. —Robin Wright, New Yorker, 26 May 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