1
as in painful
hard to accept or bear especially emotionally
agonizing cries rose up from the dungeon
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in wrenching
intensely or unbearably painful
died an agonizing death
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in suffering
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
2
as in indecision
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
1
as in plaguing
to cause persistent suffering to
got into more trouble, further agonizing her poor mother
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of agonizing
Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
However, watching the slow and steady movement of a horrific storm on a collision course with my beloved land over the last several days was agonizing.
—Grace White, Essence, 29 Oct. 2025
Thomas Drance, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
Playoff roster decisions are agonizing for every Major League Baseball front office, but the Toronto Blue Jays are dealing with some particularly tough calls this year.
—Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for agonizing
Adjective
The Toronto Blue Jays, absent for decades from the party, will long rue the agonizing finale.
—Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
However, watching the slow and steady movement of a horrific storm on a collision course with my beloved land over the last several days was agonizing.
—Grace White, Essence, 29 Oct. 2025
Verb
As a result, the sort of trade talks and deals that Vancouver is currently exploring, weighing and even agonizing about in advance of the season are of a different variety entirely.
—Thomas Drance, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
Playoff roster decisions are agonizing for every Major League Baseball front office, but the Toronto Blue Jays are dealing with some particularly tough calls this year.
—Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for agonizing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for agonizing
Adjective
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Ember Leonara, 36, tells Rolling Stone that coming out as transgender this year led to painful rifts in her life.—
Miles Klee,
Rolling Stone,
11 Nov. 2025
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But the track record is mixed—SoftBank’s backing of WeWork ended in a high-profile collapse, and the premature exit from Nvidia has become a painful reminder of opportunities lost.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
11 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Perhaps the most wrenching scene is one in which Anders, seated alone in a busy café, tunes in to ordinary conversations around him.—
Margaret Talbot,
New Yorker,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The Rimba Satwa Foundation — a conservation organization dedicated to advocating for elephants and wildlife — has linked the tragedy to the suffering elephants are facing amid the rapid destruction of their habitat, such as changes in land use, and high levels of hunting.—
Desiree Anello,
PEOPLE,
9 Nov. 2025
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In the future, retrons and other gene-editing technology may do more than just reduce and eliminate suffering.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Bo Nix struggled mightily with indecision, accuracy and footwork for a second straight game, finishing 16 of 28 for 150 yards, a touchdown and two picks.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Mars's interaction with the other planets serves up indecision instead of certainty.—
Lisa Stardust,
Refinery29,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Both cases are apt to serve as models for how to prevent the kind of school shootings still plaguing the nation and could set legal precedent for who shoulders the blame when children have access to guns and open fire on campus.—
Cindy Von Quednow,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
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The Live With Kelly and Mark talk show hostess seemingly hasn't known peace on the scariest day of the year for quite some time, but not because of ghosts and ghoulies plaguing her — but, rather, ungrateful neighbors who consistently complain about her Halloween candy.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
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However, the tale of a grieving husband and father quickly unraveled as Murdaugh’s laundry list of financial crimes – and elaborate cover-up schemes – against his legal clients came to light.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
5 Nov. 2025
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One skipped school day exposes the fractures of a family grieving in silence and the contradictions of love that shape her girlhood.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
There's a lot of harsh words and harsh things that get said about people.—
Ryan Canfield,
FOXNews.com,
8 Nov. 2025
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Applying it at the base of the plant before the first frost can protect the roots from harsh cold and keep the soil from freezing.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
The earnings report is the first by the company following the August close of the merger of Paramount and Skydance after a long and torturous regulatory process.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Waiting for news was torturous.—
Grace White,
Essence,
29 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Agonizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/agonizing. Accessed 17 Nov. 2025.
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