excruciate

verb

ik-ˈskrü-shē-ˌāt How to pronounce excruciate (audio)
Definition of excruciatenext
as in to plague
to cause persistent suffering to she has long been excruciated by an undiagnosed pain in her knee

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of excruciate For example, a person with a hernia who infrequently experiences minor discomfort likely wouldn't be as much of a priority as someone with a hernia that causes excruciating pain every day. — Perry Vandell, azcentral, 25 Apr. 2020 Sometimes their grandchildren are excruciated and appalled by what’s meant to be lightly funny. — Deborah Treisman, The New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2020 Exposed, incapacitated, and in excruciating pain, laboring moms rely on other people—doctors, nurses, midwives, doulas, and especially their partners—for help and support. — Minhae Shim Roth, Glamour, 1 Apr. 2020 One poor woman is left in excruciating pain for 24 hours, and Meredith’s ex-boyfriend Andrew DeLuca (Giacomo Gianniotti) accuses the relative of a patient of being a human trafficker. — Ariana Romero, refinery29.com, 20 Mar. 2020 See All Example Sentences for excruciate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for excruciate
  1. plague
  2. persecute
  3. afflict
  4. torture
  5. torment
  6. besiege
Verb
  • Accusations of racial profiling have long plagued the department, alienating generations of Black and brown Angelenos.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 24 July 2026
  • The institution had been plagued by declining enrollment and budget deficits which resulted in staff layoffs, culminating in Vanderbilt’s purchase of the institution early this year.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 23 July 2026
Definition of plague
Verb
  • The Chinese government denies the Uyghurs have been or are being persecuted.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 July 2026
  • As a senator, Marco Rubio was a strong supporter of the bureau and human rights broadly, once arguing from the Senate floor that safeguarding the freedoms of gay men who were persecuted in Chechnya — and all people — was in the national interest.
    — Anna Maria Barry-Jester, ProPublica, 17 July 2026
Definition of persecute
Verb
  • Lotus seems to have ironed out the hesitancy that previously afflicted the dual-clutch ’box, particularly when parking.
    — Tim Pitt, Robb Report, 22 July 2026
  • Forty-nine of the afflicted have been hospitalized; of those, thirty-four have gone home.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 15 July 2026
Definition of afflict
Verb
  • Yes, Emmett Till, the 14-year-old Black boy who was abducted, tortured and lynched in Mississippi in 1955 after a White woman accused him of making an advance toward her.
    — Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 23 July 2026
  • The case involves allegations by three men that they were tortured while imprisoned in Venezuela.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 22 July 2026
Definition of torture
Verb
  • Or suppose you’re being tormented by someone in power, but lack the ability to explain to others—or even to yourself—exactly how you’re being wronged.
    — Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 24 July 2026
  • The trailer shows Depp as Scrooge tormented by the terrifying spirits of Christmas, haunting him throughout the Christmas season.
    — Tanya Fedak, Variety, 23 July 2026
Definition of torment
Verb
  • Meanwhile, the palace has been besieged by loutish suitors, led by the scheming Antinous (Robert Pattinson), all of them vying for the queen’s hand in remarriage and mooching off the absent king’s food and wine.
    — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 17 July 2026
  • There was a dinner for 500 after the fashion show on Tuesday night, and he was besieged by guests wanting to talk to him, talk his picture, take selfies, and just bask in his glory.
    — Dylan Jones, Robb Report, 16 July 2026
Definition of besiege

Browse Nearby Words

excreting
excruciate
excruciated
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Excruciate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/excruciate. Accessed 26 Jul. 2026.

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