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
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
The Look An admittedly anxious and insecure person, Keaton agonized about her looks from an early age.
—Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 26 Dec. 2025
Their injuries are stomach-turning, their cries agonizing.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for agonize
Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 13 Feb. 2026
Cristobal agonized for days about what to do.
—CBS News, 14 Jan. 2026
The Look An admittedly anxious and insecure person, Keaton agonized about her looks from an early age.
—Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 26 Dec. 2025
Their injuries are stomach-turning, their cries agonizing.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for agonize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for agonize
Verb
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Making up between 8% to 17% of the country’s total population, Iran’s Kurdish minority has long been persecuted under the Islamic Republic.—
John Calabrese,
The Conversation,
7 Mar. 2026
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The agency’s leadership structure — chaired by active-duty officers loyal to Ortega — undermines its autonomy and allows the government to use financial oversight tools to persecute critics, Treasury said.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Group for individuals grieving death of spouse or life partner.—
Staff Report,
Baltimore Sun,
4 Mar. 2026
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Last year, Razani's artistic performance and installation in front of the art institute honored grieving families in Iran who are seeking justice.—
Charlie De Mar,
CBS News,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Gonzalez revealed weeks ago that tests on his shoulder, which has plagued him since September, showed a small tear.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
7 Mar. 2026
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Perched between China and India, the country of 30 million people has been plagued for decades by political instability, crippling a largely agrarian economy and worsening unemployment – structural issues compounded by rampant corruption.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Arab world is not mourning.—
Andrew Ghalili,
Boston Herald,
7 Mar. 2026
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During perhaps the most rousing eulogy of all on Saturday, Jackson’s second-oldest son, Jonathan, referenced his father’s journey from then to now, while a who’s-who of faith leaders, heads of state, dignitaries, power brokers and celebrities mourned before him.—
Darcel Rockett,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Peach leaf curl, brown rot, powdery mildew, peach scab, and other diseases also commonly afflict the tree.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
10 Mar. 2026
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In New Zealand, Māori men are famously afflicted — by their eighties, nearly half may have (or have had) gout.—
Jan Steyn,
The Dial,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Her joints ached, and her legs were frequently taut with fluid.—
Jason Liebowitz,
New Yorker,
6 Mar. 2026
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When Jayson Tatum tore his right Achilles tendon against the New York Knicks in the playoffs last May, his family, friends and teammates ached for him.—
Jay King,
New York Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The former soldier also said Haitian police mentally and physically tortured the Colombian suspects after they were taken into custody.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
9 Mar. 2026
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For 47 years, Iranians have been subject to a regime that seeks to divide them, isolate them, oppress them, torture them and dispose of them.—
Talla Mountjoy,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In the series premiere of Netflix’s Vladimir, Rachel Weisz awakens from troubled sleep to a cascade of texts, sighs deeply, and addresses the camera with pleading eyes.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
5 Mar. 2026
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Emma looked at the phone in his hand and sighed.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Agonize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/agonize. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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