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
Scenes like that — which require actors to simulate abandon while a full crew looks on — can be excruciating to film.
—Seija Rankin, HollywoodReporter, 15 Jan. 2026
The Broncos led the entire fourth quarter at Indianapolis — a team that would subsequently run out to a 7-1 start and looked like a primary AFC threat until QB Daniel Jones’ injury — but lost in excruciating fashion.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 15 Jan. 2026
The first round of the International Tennis Federation’s W35 tournament, played on a clay court in Nairobi, Kenya, wouldn’t normally make much of a splash in the tennis world, but millions of people have now seen what transpired over 37 excruciating minutes in the capital.
—Don Riddell, CNN Money, 8 Jan. 2026
Along the way, his Colts had playoff appearances almost every year and an excruciating loss in an AFC Championship Game.
—Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for excruciating
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Seija Rankin, HollywoodReporter, 15 Jan. 2026
The Broncos led the entire fourth quarter at Indianapolis — a team that would subsequently run out to a 7-1 start and looked like a primary AFC threat until QB Daniel Jones’ injury — but lost in excruciating fashion.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 15 Jan. 2026
The first round of the International Tennis Federation’s W35 tournament, played on a clay court in Nairobi, Kenya, wouldn’t normally make much of a splash in the tennis world, but millions of people have now seen what transpired over 37 excruciating minutes in the capital.
—Don Riddell, CNN Money, 8 Jan. 2026
Along the way, his Colts had playoff appearances almost every year and an excruciating loss in an AFC Championship Game.
—Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for excruciating
Cite this Entry
“Excruciating.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/excruciating. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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