Synonyms of agonizing

agonizing 1 of 3

adjective

ˈa-gə-ˌnī-ziŋ 

1

as in painful

hard to accept or bear especially emotionally

agonizing cries rose up from the dungeon

Synonyms & Similar Words

• painful
• harsh
• torturous
• cruel
• excruciating
• harrowing
• horrible
• bitter
• terrible
• hurtful
• severe
• grievous
• galling
• tormenting
• awful
• unbearable
• unacceptable
• heartrending
• dreadful
• afflicting
• unendurable
• intolerable
• insufferable
• miserable
• bad
• intense
• appalling
• dire
• insupportable
• acute
• ghastly
• extreme
• vile
• wretched
• nasty
• unsupportable
• rotten
• piercing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• gratifying
• sweet
• pleasing
• bearable
• tolerable
• endurable
• sustainable
• supportable
• survivable
• acceptable
• livable
• reasonable
• allowable
• sufferable
• liveable

2

as in wrenching

intensely or unbearably painful

died an agonizing death

Synonyms & Similar Words

• wrenching
• torturous
• excruciating
• torturing
• intense
• harrowing
• raging
• tormenting
• violent
• racking
• extreme
• biting
• acute
• exquisite
• fierce
• stabbing
• vehement
• tearing
• penetrating
• stinging
• shooting
• piercing
• sharp
• cutting
• tingling
• smarting

agonizing

2 of 3

noun

1

as in suffering

Synonyms & Similar Words

• suffering
• weeping
• mourning
• tears
• grieving
• sob
• sorrowing
• regret
• hand-wringing
• lamentation
• cry
• protest
• groan
• anguish
• outcry
• sorrow
• lament
• grief
• wail
• heartache
• heartbreak
• howl
• keen
• moan
• woe
• plaint
• complaint
• cri de coeur
• dolor

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rejoicing
• exultation
• smiling
• laughing
• cheering

2

as in indecision

Synonyms & Similar Words

• indecision
• hesitation
• introspection
• contemplation
• meditation
• deliberation
• consideration
• rumination
• cogitation
• thought
• pondering
• debate
• reflection
• study
• premeditation
• advisement
• account

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• short shrift

agonizing

3 of 3

verb

present participle of agonize

1

as in plaguing

to cause persistent suffering to

got into more trouble, further agonizing her poor mother

Synonyms & Similar Words

• plaguing
• persecuting
• afflicting
• torturing
• excruciating
• anguishing
• harrowing
• tormenting
• besieging
• cursing
• attacking
• bothering
• troubling
• stinging
• racking
• bedeviling
• besetting
• aggravating
• disturbing
• distressing
• exasperating
• pursuing
• striking
• irritating
• annoying
• overwhelming
• worrying
• grieving
• harassing
• discomforting
• badgering
• disquieting
• assailing
• upsetting
• vexing
• trying
• hounding
• riding
• griping
• pestering
• dogging
• nettling
• hurting
• stressing
• agitating
• perturbing
• harrying
• chafing
• galling
• stabbing
• bugging
• oppressing
• irking
• grating
• crushing
• rasping
• straining
• molesting
• smarting
• riling
• overpowering
• victimizing
• tyrannizing
• smiting
• flustering
• putting out
• paining
• pricking
• wringing
• piquing
• discomposing
• getting
• peeving
• hagriding
• panging
• martyring

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• assisting
• helping
• aiding
• relieving
• abetting
• delivering
• releasing
• comforting
• soothing
• consoling
• quieting
• contenting
• reprieving
• solacing
• succoring

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

• grieving
• aching
• mourning
• sighing
• suffering
• sorrowing
• anguishing
• crying
• sobbing
• bleeding
• weeping
• hurting
• groaning
• tormenting
• smarting
• eating one's heart out
• tearing one's hair
• moaning
• torturing
• longing (for)
• pining (away)
• bewailing
• lamenting
• blubbering
• howling
• yammering
• racking
• deploring
• languishing
• bemoaning
• regretting
• bawling
• wailing
• ruing
• keening
• yowling
• taking on

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• laughing
• cheering
• rejoicing
• exulting
• ravishing
• beaming
• delighting
• glorying
• triumphing
• crowing
• comforting
• reassuring
• consoling
• soothing
• assuring
• sympathizing
• joying
• commiserating
• solacing

Examples of agonizing in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

After October 7th, the magazine found itself in an agonizing double bind. —Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 9 Sep. 2024

Hunter, who’s called upon to bring a dynamic physicality to Solange, perambulating with the assistance of a considerably loud walker, is agonizing and entertaining as a controlling Southern Belle whose microaggressions (and incontinence) eventually pushes her daughter-in-law to the edge. —Nicholas Bell, SPIN, 4 Sep. 2024

The introverted athlete shared an agonizing sentiment of what the loss felt like for her. —Danielle Cadet, refinery29.com, 31 Aug. 2024

The world is mourning the news of Doherty’s death, at only 53, after an agonizing, nine-year, public battle with cancer. —Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 14 July 2024