1
as in to persecute
to cause persistent suffering to
got into more trouble, further agonizing her poor mother
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of agonize
As Kevin agonized, the 3A customer service reps dangled a solution: Just wire the funds again and unlock your $1.4 million.
—
Cezary Podkul, ProPublica, 25 June 2025
Sydney agonizes over the question of whether to abandon Carm and the Bear for a more functional (if annoying) chef who’s trying to poach her.
—Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 26 June 2025
The inherent uncertainty often leads to agonizing over ‘what-ifs’ —the potential risks and downsides of choosing a particular path, sometimes even the worst possible outcomes.
—John Hall, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025
Hollywood studios and craftspeople may be busy agonizing over the proper role of AI’s potential within the film industry, but Chinese studios aren’t slowing down.
—Mathew Scott, HollywoodReporter, 19 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for agonize
Cezary Podkul, ProPublica, 25 June 2025
Sydney agonizes over the question of whether to abandon Carm and the Bear for a more functional (if annoying) chef who’s trying to poach her.
—Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 26 June 2025
The inherent uncertainty often leads to agonizing over ‘what-ifs’ —the potential risks and downsides of choosing a particular path, sometimes even the worst possible outcomes.
—John Hall, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025
Hollywood studios and craftspeople may be busy agonizing over the proper role of AI’s potential within the film industry, but Chinese studios aren’t slowing down.
—Mathew Scott, HollywoodReporter, 19 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for agonize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for agonize
Verb
-
In late-night filings Thursday, the Manhattan U.S. attorney’s office pushed back on recent framing by Combs’ lawyers portraying him as persecuted.—
Molly Crane-Newman,
New York Daily News,
1 Aug. 2025
-
Open Doors is a global Christian charity which supports and speaks up for Christians persecuted for their faith.—
Paul Tilsley,
FOXNews.com,
31 July 2025
Verb
-
At the time, Sampson and his family were grieving the recent loss of their beloved dog, Caddie, who inspired another one of his books, Caddie the Golf Dog.—
Clea Haran,
Parents,
7 Aug. 2025
-
As dozens of agencies scour the dense forests and mountains that bookend the town, residents are privately grieving the tragedy at a bar that holds a special place in their hearts – and the history of the region.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN Money,
6 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
No mysteries plagued Preller this summer as far as which Padres positions needed upgrades ahead of the July 31 trade deadline.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
17 Aug. 2025
-
Microbes could be redesigned to remediate poisonous perchlorates that plague the soil, opening the way for Eden-like gardens across expanding oases, and releasing oxygen in the process to slowly build up the atmosphere.—
Kevin Holden Platt,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Goldberg, 69, and the When Harry Met Sally star have mourned and celebrated their late pal more than once.—
Jack Smart,
People.com,
12 Aug. 2025
-
Advertisement Hundreds gathered at the Sheikh Radwan cemetery in the Gaza Strip to mourn the five journalists on Monday.—
Richard Hall,
Time,
11 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The risk and harms of AMD increase after age 65, but bright lights afflict younger people, too.—
Matt Fuchs,
Time,
4 Aug. 2025
-
The gun violence epidemic continues to afflict our country and now has shattered lives in our great city.—
Khaleda Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 July 2025
Verb
-
When his side ached for the next couple of days, X-rays revealed the fractures.—
David O'Brien,
New York Times,
8 Aug. 2025
-
With Hasan in Gaza is an aching witness to the beauty of this land and the struggle of its people, neither of which may soon be recognizable at all.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
For more than three weeks, Halimi was held hostage and tortured.—
Rachel Wolf,
FOXNews.com,
15 Aug. 2025
-
Initially, Patricia had been kept blindfolded and tied to a chair in the same house where José was tortured.—
Sam Gillette,
People.com,
8 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Masters sighed and readjusted himself in his seat before answering.—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
15 Aug. 2025
-
Her supervisor sighed, angling his chair away from her.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Agonize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/agonize. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share