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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of agonize
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
McClarnon, 59, not only stars but produces, directs and agonizes about getting it right.
—Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 15 Feb. 2026
This wasn’t a decision that NBC Sports president Rick Cordella had to agonize over, as Snoop’s performance as the Olympics’ Ambassador of Good Vibes essentially functioned as a masterclass in what makes for good TV.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 13 Feb. 2026
Cristobal agonized for days about what to do.
—CBS News, 14 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for agonize
Hillel Italie, Los Angeles Times, 21 Feb. 2026
McClarnon, 59, not only stars but produces, directs and agonizes about getting it right.
—Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 15 Feb. 2026
This wasn’t a decision that NBC Sports president Rick Cordella had to agonize over, as Snoop’s performance as the Olympics’ Ambassador of Good Vibes essentially functioned as a masterclass in what makes for good TV.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 13 Feb. 2026
Cristobal agonized for days about what to do.
—CBS News, 14 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for agonize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for agonize
Verb
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The helpless and much persecuted turtles were cooked in a rich, creamy soup with chunks of meat.—
James Stout,
Outside,
29 Mar. 2026
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The Iranian regime has persecuted members of her own family.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In closing her statement, Garnet asked for space as the family begins to grieve.—
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
25 Mar. 2026
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Kai Smart was flown in an air ambulance to Vancouver General Hospital on Thursday, where doctors determined he couldn’t be saved, according to his grieving father.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Meanwhile, some good news is in the forecast for the drought- and heat-plagued West, as a cool, wet and even snowy pattern is forecast to bring some relief that's desperately needed across the region.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
28 Mar. 2026
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While the company ultimately plans to build a 104-station tunnel network beneath Las Vegas, the project has also been plagued by safety issues, accidents, and scandals.—
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez,
Fortune,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Sanders was still mourning the loss of his beloved Brooklyn Dodgers, who’d fled west, to Los Angeles, nearly seventy years ago.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
29 Mar. 2026
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The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department mourns the loss of Deputy Levi Vargas, who passed away on Saturday, March 28, 2026, at the age of 30.—
Austin Turner,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The centuries-old pot-kettle idiom points out hypocrisy — as when one person accuses another of a flaw that afflicts himself.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Mar. 2026
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The disease afflicted homosexuals, Haitians, haemophiliacs and heroin addicts.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Money-minded Venus conjoins aching Chiron in your 4th House of Domesticity, feathering their nests as an example to you.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
26 Mar. 2026
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Krauss joins Combs on the chorus, her airy vocal serving as a soothing balm over his gritty, aching voice.—
Jessica Nicholson,
Billboard,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Court records show that Gabriel was tortured by starvation, shot by BB guns, and forced to eat cat litter, cat feces and his own vomit.—
Rick Montanez,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
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His Venice entry triggered multiple walkouts in Sonoma, though, especially during a scene featuring the always solid Oscar Isaac getting tortured.—
Anne Thompson,
IndieWire,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But the people in these plays aren’t sighing and slumping.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
23 Mar. 2026
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The tension compelled viewers to sway with her, panic with her every jump, sigh in relief after each flawless landing.—
Marcus Thompson II,
New York Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Agonize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/agonize. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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