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
Relevance
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
Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Oct. 2025
Uncertain about where things are headed, companies are reluctant to hire, leaving agonized jobseekers unable to find work and worrying the consumers (70% of U.S. economic activity) whose spending has driven impressive growth for the world’s biggest economy since the COVID-19 disruptions of 2020.
—Staff and Wire Reports, Boston Herald, 5 Sep. 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
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
Uncertain about where things are headed, companies are reluctant to hire, leaving agonized jobseekers unable to find work and worrying the consumers (70% of U.S. economic activity) whose spending has driven impressive growth for the world’s biggest economy since the COVID-19 disruptions of 2020.
—Staff and Wire Reports, Boston Herald, 5 Sep. 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
-
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
-
And the Rams were unable to overcome a special teams miscue, a theme that plagued them throughout the season.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Rodman was plagued by injury in 2025, using the first half of the year to recover from a lingering back issue.—
Melanie Anzidei,
New York Times,
25 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
After Garcia's slaying, his parents, stepdad Raymond Courtemanche and mom Teresa, and their daughters Briana, now 37, and 32-year-old Tearae grieved — and got to work.—
Susan Young,
PEOPLE,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Fans left notes, flowers, and grieved together.—
Amanda Hari,
CBS News,
11 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
McGuire’s goal here is entertainment (achieved) but his empathetic treatment of the indigenous tribes the English come into contact and conflict with gives his novel a mournful air of tragedy.—
Chloe Schama,
Vogue,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Adapted from Denis Johnson’s novella, Train Dreams stars Joel Edgerton in an elegiac, mournful portrait of a logger at the turn of the century.—
David Canfield,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Mattarella condemned the complicity of ordinary Italians in the fascist-era racial laws, which persecuted Italy’s Jewish community, and deportation of its Jews.—
Vanessa Gera,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The Kurds have been marginalized, persecuted and slaughtered by the likes of Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Syria, and before those states existed, the Ottoman Empire.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Others mourned the Logan Paul effect.—
Clio Chang,
Curbed,
23 Jan. 2026
-
While the indie film world has mourned her in recent weeks, Rosen will surely be top of mind on Thursday when the 42nd annual Sundance Film Festival kicks off.—
Brooke Blumberg,
Variety,
21 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Neighbors said they were heartbroken to hear about the incident.—
Jeramie Bizzle,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The younger brother of a man shot celebrating his birthday in the Bronx witnessed the slaying and was wounded by the gunman too, the siblings’ heartbroken mother revealed Monday.—
Rebecca White,
New York Daily News,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
At least 50 people had been reported dead in states afflicted by the dangerous cold.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Officials in states afflicted with severe cold reported at least 50 deaths.—
Stephen Sorace,
FOXNews.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Agonized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/agonized. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
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