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
W. H. Ferry2
: very intense : extreme
excruciating pain
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
That story isn’t about the nurse so much as the patients who saw their excruciating pain systematically ignored, and Burton conveys them as a kind of Greek chorus, individual voices cycling in and out to conjure a sense of collective experience.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 10 July 2025
Simon’s excruciating back pain previously forced him to cancel his June 27 and 28 shows in Philadelphia.
—Rachel Flynn, People.com, 3 July 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for excruciating
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Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 10 July 2025
Simon’s excruciating back pain previously forced him to cancel his June 27 and 28 shows in Philadelphia.
—Rachel Flynn, People.com, 3 July 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for excruciating
Cite this Entry
“Excruciating.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/excruciating. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
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