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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of agonize
Christiansen said he’s dismayed by the changing landscape of college athletics with the transfer portal and NIL (name, image and likeness) money, and every coach agonizes on how to spread 11.7 scholarships over a 35-man roster.
—
Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 18 May 2025
Independent producers and sales agents agonized over what many of them see as an existential threat to their business.
—Chris Lee, Vulture, 5 May 2025
Garden of Gethsemane The Garden of Gethsemane, at the base of the Mount of Olives, is said to be where Jesus agonized on the night of his arrest and crucifixion.
—Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 11 Apr. 2025
Some parents on flights agonize over the idea of their young child causing midair disruption.
—Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for agonize
Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 18 May 2025
Independent producers and sales agents agonized over what many of them see as an existential threat to their business.
—Chris Lee, Vulture, 5 May 2025
Garden of Gethsemane The Garden of Gethsemane, at the base of the Mount of Olives, is said to be where Jesus agonized on the night of his arrest and crucifixion.
—Michael Goldstein, Forbes.com, 11 Apr. 2025
Some parents on flights agonize over the idea of their young child causing midair disruption.
—Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for agonize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for agonize
Verb
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There may be no animal that has been more revered and reviled, romanticized and persecuted, adopted and murdered than the coyote.—
Helen Whybrow
July 7,
Literary Hub,
7 July 2025
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Asylum seekers must prove their government is persecuting them or that they're being persecuted by someone who the government is unable or unwilling to stop.—
Victoria Moorwood,
The Enquirer,
2 July 2025
Verb
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Dogs, the nation's most-popular pet, were also called challenging to raise and grieve.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 July 2025
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This has led some to publicly chastise the grieving parents for seeking vengeance over justice, a criticism that Kristi addressed in a Facebook post on Thursday, July 3.—
Chris Spargo,
People.com,
4 July 2025
Verb
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The last few projects have been plagued by delays and massive cost overruns.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
27 June 2025
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Pachuca’s failure plagued Salzburg as well, with the Austrian side needing a boost after things turned for the worse against Real Madrid, only to be denied – despite their social media admin’s best pleas.—
Liam Twomey,
New York Times,
27 June 2025
Verb
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The world has mourned the loss of 27 campers and counselors, and 10 girls are still missing, according to the camp.—
Ross O'Keefe,
The Washington Examiner,
7 July 2025
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The Bruins community is mourning at the passing of one of the great characters in the club’s century-long history, Lyndon Byers, who died on Friday at the age of 61.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
5 July 2025
Verb
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To put it into perspective, the National Organization for Rare Disorders estimates that one person on every elevator and four people on every bus are afflicted.—
Alexis Kayser,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 June 2025
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Those afflicted with sickle cell disease and their families turned out in support of World Sickle Cell Day at West Oakland’s DeFremery Park on Sunday.—
Jane Tyska,
Mercury News,
25 June 2025
Verb
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Owners may consider special stairs, a ramp or even a stroller to help their elderly dog move around, while some dogs benefit from special beds and crate pads to help aching muscles and stiff joints.—
Rachael O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 July 2025
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Like all great period romances, Maurice places aching desire at the forefront, with the men's palpable yearning made all the more soul-shattering by the fetters of their time.—
Lia Beck,
EW.com,
25 June 2025
Verb
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Nicolás Maduro and his enforcers are running a criminal narco-terrorist dictatorship that jails political opponents, tortures dissidents, and crushes any hope of free expression.—
Rachel Wolf,
FOXNews.com,
27 June 2025
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An immigration judge determined that he would likely be persecuted or tortured if deported to Guatemala again, and granted him an order protecting him from removal.—
Solcyré Burga,
Time,
25 June 2025
Verb
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Viewers collectively sighed with relief knowing the dogs were looking up.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 June 2025
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Before immediately snapping, sighing loudly, or muttering a passive-aggressive comment, try pausing to consider what else might be going on first: Maybe your barista’s slammed with 10 other complicated orders, for instance, or your housemate had a brutal week at work.—
Jenna Ryu,
SELF,
17 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Agonize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/agonize. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.
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