as in weeping
expressing or suggesting mourning
one look at his agonized, tearful eyes and it was clear that something was terribly wrong
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in plagued
to cause persistent suffering to
got into more trouble, further agonizing her poor mother
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in grieved
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 agonized
Edward Segarra, USA Today, 31 Oct. 2025
After the long commerical break that cohost Julianne Hough made an agonized Fishel and Pashkov wait through to receive their scores, they were relieved to earn a 29, from three 7s and Tonioli's 8.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Oct. 2025
Nathaniel Weixel, The Hill, 21 Nov. 2025
The Canadian musician had agonized over writing the song in the first place.
—NPR, 6 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for agonized
Adjective
Instead, his agonized facial expressions, brought on by an overwhelming vampiric thirst, come across like a bad impersonation of a food allergy.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 31 Oct. 2025
After the long commerical break that cohost Julianne Hough made an agonized Fishel and Pashkov wait through to receive their scores, they were relieved to earn a 29, from three 7s and Tonioli's 8.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Oct. 2025
Verb
Cassidy agonized about supporting Kennedy’s confirmation due to his record of anti-vaccine views, but ultimately cast the deciding vote for his nomination after receiving assurances about vaccine policy.
—Nathaniel Weixel, The Hill, 21 Nov. 2025
The Canadian musician had agonized over writing the song in the first place.
—NPR, 6 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for agonized
Recent Examples of Synonyms for agonized
Adjective
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And every day, across from them, outside the clinic, about to enter or just leaving, there were women hugging each other and weeping.—
David Mamet,
National Review,
11 Aug. 2022
-
The show manages to stay on the brink — always laughing, never quite weeping — for its entire length.—
Helen Shaw,
Vulture,
8 Dec. 2021
Verb
-
Opposition lawmakers are demanding Starmer resign, arguing his appointment of Mandelson despite warnings about reputational risks demonstrates poor judgment that has plagued his tenure since July 2024.—
Jill Lawless,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Apr. 2026
-
There were promising signs of life throughout, though, and the Red Sox did enough to supersede the issues that have plagued them throughout their 9-13 start.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Hartford Courant,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The saga unfolded as Carla and Carlotta grieved an unrelated loss.—
Jennifer Cannon,
Vanity Fair,
7 Apr. 2026
-
The whole country mourned her loss and grieved for her two young daughters, Ellie and Carrie, who were just 6 and 2 at the time.—
Madeline Mitchell,
USA Today,
21 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Then, in the Andante movement, the upper strings opened with a glassy sound before the mournful line of the cello entered.—
Sheila Regan,
Twin Cities,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Over the years, humpback whale songs have been recorded for human listening, with many describing the songs as having a haunting, mournful quality.—
Patrick Whittle,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Trump implemented a program offering migration and asylum to white Afrikaners who feel persecuted in South Africa.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Apr. 2026
-
For years, deportations could be indefinitely delayed if an immigrant successfully argued that they’d be tortured or persecuted if they were returned home.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
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When the popular Italian restaurant Caffe Vialetto closed in 2025 after 26 years of feeding families and sharing milestones, diners across Miami mourned the loss of the Coral Gables icon, a stable oasis for quiet dinners and family celebrations in a wildly changing culinary landscape.—
Connie Ogle
April 9,
Miami Herald,
9 Apr. 2026
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Family members mourned Tuesday in Beirut at the funeral of Pierre Mouawad and his wife, Flavia.—
Chantal Da Silva,
NBC news,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The singer's brother Eric Stefani wrote the first version, and modified it with help from a freshly heartbroken Gwen, who had just broken up with the band's bassist Tony Kanal — one of a few times in music history that the subject of the song also contributed to its production.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
PEOPLE,
15 Apr. 2026
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Jamel Davis’ longtime live-in girlfriend first asked her son to stop smoking in the family’s home in the Walt Whitman Houses near Fort Greene Park, sparking a fight, according to the slain man’s heartbroken brother.—
Nicholas Williams,
New York Daily News,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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These are important messages for a world afflicted by war and division.—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Conspiracy Theorist Reformed One of the patients afflicted by the deadly virus was a man who came across as a conspiracy theorist.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
14 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Agonized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/agonized. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
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