1
as in persecutes
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 grieves
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for agonizes
Verb
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In Russia, the civilian repressive apparatus persecutes the military, which leaps at every chance for revenge.—
Stephen Kotkin,
Foreign Affairs,
16 Dec. 2025
Verb
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In an emotional video posted Thursday, Kim thanked supporters for their prayers and asked for privacy as his family grieves.—
Emma Bussey,
FOXNews.com,
2 Jan. 2026
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Neytiri grieves the loss of her home and her tribe and resents Jake for it.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
16 Dec. 2025
Verb
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So while so much of this matchup is strength versus strength, what might matter most is which team’s weakness plagues them the least.—
Daniel Popper,
New York Times,
9 Jan. 2026
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Cinnamon has been widely touted as a cure-all for anything that plagues the garden.—
Paul Cappiello,
Louisville Courier Journal,
12 Dec. 2025
Verb
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The fashion world mourns another great name.—
Francesco Martino,
Glamour,
19 Jan. 2026
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Family mourns relatives Three members of the same family — 72-year-old Mohamed Hamouda, his 15-year-old granddaughter and his daughter-in-law — were killed when 26-foot wall collapsed onto their tent in a coastal area along the Mediterranean shore of Gaza City, Shifa Hospital said.—
Wafaa Shurafa,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Furthermore, regulatory sclerosis afflicts housing and infrastructure.—
Veronique De Rugy,
Oc Register,
25 Dec. 2025
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Violence provided a solution but also birthed the recurring dilemma that afflicts African states today.—
Foreign Affairs,
Foreign Affairs,
16 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Bonds signs some autographs, then takes a seat on the bench in the Giants dugout next to his mother, puts his head in his hands, and sighs.—
Jeremy Collins,
The Atlantic,
12 Dec. 2025
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As the New York Rangers poured goal after goal into the Nashville Predators’ net Monday, fans and players let out not only cheers but also sighs of relief.—
Peter Baugh,
New York Times,
11 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Later, in one of the movie's most satisfying scenes, Millie locks Andrew in the attic and tortures him by loudly smashing each plate.—
Lauren Huff,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 Dec. 2025
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The mistake tortures them, which prompts the couple to try and solve the mystery by producing a fake play in an attempt to get their ex-neighbor Mary (Chloe Cherry) to audition.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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This loss is unexpected and surreal, and my heart aches… for his family, for his wife, for his children, for his friends, and for all of us who were blessed to know him.—
Christine Imarenezor,
VIBE.com,
15 Jan. 2026
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This loss is unexpected and surreal and my heart aches… for his family, for his wife, for his children, for his friends, and for all of us who were blessed to know him.—
Michael Saponara,
Billboard,
15 Jan. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Agonizes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/agonizes. Accessed 23 Jan. 2026.
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