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
To accept that there will always be creatures teeming nearby, some of them agonizing, expelled from their days.
—
María Ospina, The Dial, 31 Mar. 2026
Because coverage is guaranteed, people do not have to agonize every year over choosing a health plan based on countless variables.
—Jamie Hartmann-Boyce, The Conversation, 19 Mar. 2026
The parents who keep looking for him, agonizing over his health.
—Connor Letourneau, San Francisco Chronicle, 7 Mar. 2026
Some 36,000 fans at Pittsburgh’s Forbes Field, and many more tuning in on radio and television, agonized through one of the Fall Classic’s wildest and most emotional conclusions.
—Hillel Italie, Los Angeles Times, 21 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for agonize
María Ospina, The Dial, 31 Mar. 2026
Because coverage is guaranteed, people do not have to agonize every year over choosing a health plan based on countless variables.
—Jamie Hartmann-Boyce, The Conversation, 19 Mar. 2026
The parents who keep looking for him, agonizing over his health.
—Connor Letourneau, San Francisco Chronicle, 7 Mar. 2026
Some 36,000 fans at Pittsburgh’s Forbes Field, and many more tuning in on radio and television, agonized through one of the Fall Classic’s wildest and most emotional conclusions.
—Hillel Italie, Los Angeles Times, 21 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for agonize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for agonize
Verb
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Other human rights lawyers have been recently prosecuted in Russia, including Maria Bontsler, a prominent lawyer who defended individuals persecuted by politically motivated charges.—
Irwin Cotler,
Time,
8 May 2026
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Individuals with Jewish heritage through their father or a grandparent sometimes identified as Jewish or were persecuted for their Jewish heritage, as was the case under the Nazi regime.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Professor, with only her ex-partner’s cat for company, sits in her decaying apartment and grieves the loss of her relationship and her struggle with infertility.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 May 2026
-
Group for individuals grieving death of spouse or life partner.—
Staff Report,
Baltimore Sun,
6 May 2026
Verb
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Anti-gang units, officials say, form the backbone of the department’s crime fighting efforts in neighborhoods plagued by gang violence.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 May 2026
-
Orlando trailed Miami 3-0 early, plagued by the same defensive lapses that have defined its season so far.—
Kyle Foley,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 May 2026
Verb
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Gen Curtis King, commanding general of the 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, said his troops are mourning Key’s loss.—
Molly Parks,
The Washington Examiner,
10 May 2026
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But giraffes may have the capacity to mourn, too, anthropologist Barbara King, the author of How Animals Grieve, wrote in Scientific American in 2013.—
Jackie Flynn Mogensen,
Scientific American,
10 May 2026
Verb
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In 1602, she was afflicted by a slew of symptoms, such as convulsions, fits, and terrors.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Apr. 2026
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And so what was once out of bounds continued to move within the Pale, and a scourge went on afflicting politicians and groypers and, yes, comedians alike.—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome causes fatigue, fever, muscle aches, abdominal problems, headaches, chills and dizziness in the early stages, and late symptoms include chest tightness, coughing, shortness of breath and lungs filling with fluid.—
Mary Whitfill Roeloffs,
Forbes.com,
10 May 2026
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His aching knees won’t allow it.—
Marcus Thompson II,
New York Times,
10 May 2026
Verb
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In 1969 she was put in solitary confinement for 491 days and tortured.—
Kate Bartlett,
NPR,
2 May 2026
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Iranian American actor Anthony Azizi says the continuing Middle East conflict has sparked rising persecution of Iran’s Baha’i minority, including its members being jailed and tortured under the threat of execution.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
1 May 2026
Verb
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When placed in front of him, the child either cowers backward in fear and sighs with relief when it's turned off or uses the Force to deactivate it.—
Kirsten Acuna,
PEOPLE,
30 Apr. 2026
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Seeing her dad’s handwriting, Lally sighed.—
Tess Kenny,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Agonize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/agonize. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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