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

Euphoria’s second season came to a close in Feb. 2022 after an excruciating climax that saw Zendaya’s Rue hitting rock bottom after an emotionally draining relapse. —Shania Russell, EW.com, 11 June 2024

Dan Hurley has an excruciating choice, the greater of two blessings Alito’s flag controversy foreshadows contentious Supreme Court rulings Election monitors nervously practice for the ‘big dance in November’ Positive test not needed for long COVID diagnosis, experts conclude Cash for gold? —Hartford Courant, 6 June 2024

Melissa witnesses these excruciating exchanges while sipping her drink and grinning as if watching the latest episode of The Real Housewives of New Jersey. —Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 8 May 2024

Injuries multiplied across his body: excruciating hot shell fragments embedding in his flesh, a ricocheting bullet slamming against his skull. —Alex Traub, New York Times, 31 May 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