agonize

verb

ˈa-gə-ˌnīz How to pronounce agonize (audio)
Definition of agonizenext
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

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 To your point, agonizing about everything isn’t doing me any favors. — Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 19 May 2026 People often agonize over how to ask for a raise at work, trying to determine when to speak up and how to make their case. — Jennifer Liu, CNBC, 12 May 2026 Her ex-husband, a good father, refuses to move the boy to the town and Eden agonizes about taking the boy from his friends and school in the Twin Cities. — Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 12 Apr. 2026 Not every meeting summary or line of code needs to be agonized over, farewell to arms-style. — Aytekin Tank, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for agonize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for agonize
  1. persecute
  2. grieve
  3. plague
  4. mourn
  5. afflict
  6. ache
  7. torture
  8. sigh
Verb
  • In The Bacchae, Dionysus becomes violent only because his existence has been denied and his followers persecuted, and his maenads similarly become destructive only when pursued.
    — Angelica Frey, JSTOR Daily, 31 July 2026
  • Germany and Austria have unique programs that offer citizenship to the descendants of anyone who was persecuted or feared persecution by the Nazi regime between 1933 and 1945.
    — Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 July 2026
Definition of persecute
Verb
  • Just over one week later, as the families continue to grieve and finalize the teens’ funeral plans, their thoughts and prayers are being sent to their friend in the hospital still fighting for his life.
    — Eric Adler July 28, Kansas City Star, 28 July 2026
  • The families of these men and women grieving, heartbroken, yet filled with pride.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 26 July 2026
Definition of grieve
Verb
  • The following season, Toney appeared in a career-high 13 games, but he was plagued by drops and a late-season injury.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 1 Aug. 2026
  • The project to give the pool a facelift to celebrate the United States’ 250th birthday began in April, but has been beset by difficulties after it became plagued by an algae bloom and the pool’s new blue lining began to peel.
    — Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of plague
Verb
  • Angelo mourned his brother, who was just 14 when he was fatally shot by Colt, and asked the court to sentence Colt to life in prison without parole.
    — Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 27 July 2026
  • That era of her catalog continues to perform well on the Billboard charts weeks after fans around the world began mourning her death.
    — Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
Definition of mourn
Verb
  • Other writers have successfully captured the malaise afflicting the under-45 crowd and offered nutrient-dense characters.
    — Hillary Kelly, The Atlantic, 24 July 2026
  • One hour of media day player interviews, amid all the narratives afflicting the sport, felt like a long time to hold your breath.
    — Brian Hamilton, New York Times, 24 July 2026
Definition of afflict
Verb
  • Performed beneath a continuous gentle rain of warm seawater, this experience combines mineral-rich marine exposure and thermal comfort soothing aching muscles along the way and quieting the mind.
    — Rana Good, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Symptoms may include fever, fatigue, rash, headache, body aches, nausea and vomiting.
    — Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of ache
Verb
  • On his latest Hyperdub release, the Japanese producer born Takahide Higuchi sings more than on previous records but tortures his voice through a gauntlet of pitch-shifter effects.
    — Daniel Bromfield, Pitchfork, 27 July 2026
  • Just as Lauren warned Porsha to be careful fighting with Shamea because Shamea knows exactly how to rile her up, Porsha knows how to play the perfect mind game to torture her ex bestie.
    — Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 27 July 2026
Definition of torture
Verb
  • But Taylor eventually sighed and launched into an answer on his own.
    — Vann R. Newkirk II, The Atlantic, 28 July 2026
  • Inevitably the streak ends and everyone sighs, reflects and returns to work.
    — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2026
Definition of sigh

Browse Nearby Words

agonistic
agonize
agonized
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Cite this Entry

“Agonize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/agonize. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of agonize for Spanish Speakers

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