1
as in painful
hard to accept or bear especially emotionally
agonizing cries rose up from the dungeon
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in wrenching
intensely or unbearably painful
died an agonizing death
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in plaguing
to cause persistent suffering to
got into more trouble, further agonizing her poor mother
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in grieving
to feel deep sadness or mental pain
agonized for days over whether she'd done the right thing
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in suffering
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
2
as in indecision
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of agonizing
Randall Colburn, EW.com, 8 July 2025
And to cope with the agonizing pain of childbirth, Victoria enthusiastically embraced chloroform.
—Sam Kelly, Time, 8 July 2025
The New York Yankees, who won the 2024 American League pennant before losing a five-game Fall Classic to the Los Angeles Dodgers, fell out of first place on Independence Day weekend as an agonizing slump seemed to grip the entire team.
—Dan Schlossberg, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025
Four years after dropping out of college to launch the shopping rewards startup Fetch, CEO Wes Schroll spent an agonizing six weeks working around the clock to fix a fatal flaw.
—Tom Huddleston Jr., CNBC, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for agonizing
Verb
In one agonizing scene, Jack crashes the stage at the Grammy Awards as Ally accepts her Best New Artist trophy, then pisses his pants in front of everyone.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 8 July 2025
And to cope with the agonizing pain of childbirth, Victoria enthusiastically embraced chloroform.
—Sam Kelly, Time, 8 July 2025
The New York Yankees, who won the 2024 American League pennant before losing a five-game Fall Classic to the Los Angeles Dodgers, fell out of first place on Independence Day weekend as an agonizing slump seemed to grip the entire team.
—Dan Schlossberg, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025
Four years after dropping out of college to launch the shopping rewards startup Fetch, CEO Wes Schroll spent an agonizing six weeks working around the clock to fix a fatal flaw.
—Tom Huddleston Jr., CNBC, 3 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for agonizing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for agonizing
Adjective
-
Bernie had facial fractures, cuts and bruises around his face, and very painful muscle injuries.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 July 2025
-
Deciding where to manufacture your product is one of the most painful questions today.—
Alex Gudilko,
Forbes.com,
9 July 2025
Verb
-
Bereavement hallucinations—intensely vivid encounters with the deceased—are reported by as many as half of all grieving people.—
Adam Gopnik,
The New Yorker,
24 Mar. 2025
-
The Catalan feature tells the stories of Anabel and her mother, Delia, who are grieving for Julián, Anabel’s father.—
Jamie Lang,
Variety,
22 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Feelings of revenge soon morphed into a deep sadness for my friends’ pain and suffering.—
Roberto Loiederman,
Baltimore Sun,
8 July 2025
-
In due course, the winners can be demonized, while the losers exercise political pressure to prevent change and redress their own suffering.—
Steve Denning,
Forbes.com,
6 July 2025
Noun
-
In this environment, indecision is a decision, but almost never the right one.—
Michael Abbott,
Forbes.com,
8 July 2025
-
Does being a girl’s girl mean forfeiting your shot at love in deference to a friend’s indecision?—
Lizzie Hyman,
People.com,
3 July 2025
Adjective
-
The mask fully blocks out the harsh cabin lighting and that inevitable sunrise glow before landing.—
Samantha Leal,
Travel + Leisure,
10 July 2025
-
Before Getting Started When cleaning your oven, try to avoid using harsh oven cleaners or using the self-cleaning feature.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
10 July 2025
Adjective
-
Teddi Mellencamp has finally emerged on the healthy side of a torturous, years-long battle with cancer.—
Ryan Coleman,
EW.com,
9 July 2025
-
Working out was a chore or—even worse—torturous penance for failing to become the impossible ever-shrinking woman.—
Julie Beck,
The Atlantic,
3 July 2025
Verb
-
Wiz could be a turning point for an uncertain IPO market and a mergers and acquisitions environment aching from a slowdown in deal activity.—
Samantha Subin,
CNBC,
24 Mar. 2025
-
In fact, this iteration is a lighter and more cushioned version, with a level of support and shock absorption that ensures your feet are not aching after a day of sightseeing.—
Kristin Braswell,
Travel + Leisure,
20 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
On the other hand, hesitation or half-measures will send a clear signal to founders and investors that Israel is content to watch from the sidelines.—
Tomer Niv,
Forbes.com,
9 July 2025
-
Despite starting from a neutral position roughly three yards off his line, John shows no hesitation in extending himself nearly 10 yards to reach the edge of his penalty spot and claim the ball with authority.—
Matt Pyzdrowski,
New York Times,
9 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Agonizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/agonizing. Accessed 23 Jul. 2025.
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