1
as in to persecute
to cause persistent suffering to
got into more trouble, further agonizing her poor mother
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to grieve
to feel deep sadness or mental pain
agonized for days over whether she'd done the right thing
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of agonize
The Canadian musician had agonized over writing the song in the first place.
—
NPR, 6 Nov. 2025
That doesn’t mean the Giants’ new manager didn’t agonize over his decision to leave the University of Tennessee.
—Laurence Miedema, Mercury News, 24 Oct. 2025
This is nail-biting stuff, agonizing to sit through.
—Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 6 Oct. 2025
The second is that the Big Tech platforms have, for years, begrudgingly agonized over content-moderation decisions.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for agonize
NPR, 6 Nov. 2025
That doesn’t mean the Giants’ new manager didn’t agonize over his decision to leave the University of Tennessee.
—Laurence Miedema, Mercury News, 24 Oct. 2025
This is nail-biting stuff, agonizing to sit through.
—Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 6 Oct. 2025
The second is that the Big Tech platforms have, for years, begrudgingly agonized over content-moderation decisions.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for agonize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for agonize
Verb
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Open Doors is a global Christian charity supporting Christians persecuted for their faith.—
Paul Tilsley,
FOXNews.com,
28 Dec. 2025
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Most commonly, people felt they were being persecuted via their electronics – that their Wi-Fi networks, computers or cellphones had been hacked or implanted with tracking devices.—
Alaina Vandervoort Burns,
The Conversation,
17 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
In moments of crisis—when communities are grieving, divided, or searching for ways to care for one another—nonprofits stand on the front lines, holding our social fabric together through connection, healing, and support.—
Cat Ward,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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For the cover of the February 9, 2026, issue, the artist Till Lauer evokes the recent killings of civilians by ICE agents in Minneapolis, where thousands have gathered in the streets to protest and grieve.—
Françoise Mouly,
New Yorker,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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And on the subject of filtering, or the lack thereof, Google has confirmed that a widespread issue this weekend is plaguing inboxes with spam — or worse.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
25 Jan. 2026
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Remaking his body to avoid the health issues that plagued his first two seasons, resulting in two years with a clean bill of health.—
Adam Grosbard,
Oc Register,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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By evening, hundreds were there for a vigil to mourn the death and urge the public to resist immigration enforcers.—
Tim Sullivan,
Twin Cities,
7 Jan. 2026
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And as the university mourns Ward’s death, Self helped to put the win in perspective.—
Anna Lazarus Caplan,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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At least 32 deaths have been reported in states afflicted with severe cold, including two people run over by snowplows in Massachusetts and Ohio, fatal sledding accidents that killed teenagers in Arkansas and Texas, and a woman whose body was found covered in snow in Kansas.—
Russ Bynum,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Jan. 2026
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At least 30 deaths have been reported in states afflicted with severe cold, including two people run over by snowplows in Massachusetts and Ohio, fatal sledding accidents that killed teenagers in Arkansas and Texas, and a woman whose body was found covered in snow in Kansas.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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That’s why our hearts are aching over his death at 78.—
Angie Martoccio,
Rolling Stone,
11 Jan. 2026
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Partnership conversations shift as Venus (in your 7th House of Collaborations) nudges aching Chiron, encouraging clear requests and brave listening across family or professional bonds.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
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And so even people who were heroes of the nation, they were beaten, tortured, taken for reeducation.—
Anne Applebaum,
The Atlantic,
23 Jan. 2026
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In 1980, the shah admitted to mistakes, including acknowledging that his regime had tortured Iranians.—
Eric Lob,
The Conversation,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Yet in some corners of the Internet, Fuentes is as sighed over as Timothée Chalamet.—
Maggie Turner,
Air Mail,
17 Jan. 2026
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Suddenly, Jeff Parker plucks a sighing six-note guitar run, dropping his shoulders into a solo section that carries the tune to its swooning conclusion.—
Dash Lewis,
Pitchfork,
20 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Agonize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/agonize. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
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