1
as in wrenching
intensely or unbearably painful
he finally visited the doctor when the pain became too excruciating to ignore
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2
as in searing
difficult to endure
the excruciating heat that the settlers faced as they crossed the deserts of the Southwest
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in painful
hard to accept or bear especially emotionally
most excruciating of all was the endless wait for news of any survivors of the plane crash
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4
as in intense
extreme in degree, power, or effect
the excruciating grief they felt upon the loss of their dear grandfather
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as in plaguing
to cause persistent suffering to
she has long been excruciated by an undiagnosed pain in her knee
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of excruciating
Jacob Stern, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2026
Officer Alex Luebbehusen, one of the officers involved in the 2022 Buckhead shooting, said the investigative process was excruciating and slow.
—Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 16 Mar. 2026
Within a few days of this torment, the families began the excruciating business of demolishing their houses.
—Dahlia Krutkovich, The New York Review of Books, 14 Mar. 2026
However, dozens of Iranian athletes have trodden a similar path in recent years, and their testimony sheds light on the excruciating life choices that can be suddenly thrust upon them.
—Don Riddell, CNN Money, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for excruciating
Adjective
The pain, for some, is excruciating, yet others feel no pain at all.
—Jacob Stern, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2026
Officer Alex Luebbehusen, one of the officers involved in the 2022 Buckhead shooting, said the investigative process was excruciating and slow.
—Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 16 Mar. 2026
Within a few days of this torment, the families began the excruciating business of demolishing their houses.
—Dahlia Krutkovich, The New York Review of Books, 14 Mar. 2026
However, dozens of Iranian athletes have trodden a similar path in recent years, and their testimony sheds light on the excruciating life choices that can be suddenly thrust upon them.
—Don Riddell, CNN Money, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for excruciating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for excruciating
Adjective
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Another wrenching question, of course, is whether at least the younger Perez siblings would want or need to go with Olga to Guatemala if she were deported.—
Tim Padgett,
Sun Sentinel,
27 Mar. 2026
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These four novels create a convincing, wrenching, kaleidoscopic picture of the range and repetitions of the most fatal kind of love; the sort of love that allows nothing else to grow around it, that eradicates all dignity; a love which, in order to be completed, must be told.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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But as Lumpkin sat at the defense table, the victim’s family delivered searing statements that undercut her long-standing claims of abuse, portraying her instead as a calculating, coldblooded killer.—
Pamela Colloff,
ProPublica,
24 Mar. 2026
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There are no national – or local – media outlets setting up for live broadcasts on this searing hot afternoon.—
Celina Tebor,
CNN Money,
19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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My ila facial was pure joy—no painful extraction or aggravating scrubs here.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Mar. 2026
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Both seasons were painfully funny (often just painful), but the humor sometimes got lost as time has proven even its most over-the-top bits eerily correct.—
Jennifer Silverman,
Rolling Stone,
29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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In an unexpected move, OpenAI announced its video generating service Sora will be shutting down soon as the company comes under intense pressure from rival Anthropic.—
Elizabeth Robinson,
NBC news,
25 Mar. 2026
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Eucerin’s Advanced Repair Lotion focuses on exactly that, combining intense hydration with ingredients that help reinforce the skin’s natural protective layer.—
Hana Hong,
Glamour,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Deeply troubled by the demographic and social problems plaguing the Nenets people, Nerkagi founded the Land of Hope—a tundra school for children which combines modern and traditional education and provides support to orphans and lonely elders.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
25 Mar. 2026
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But since 2023, local municipalities have argued that the majority of ozone plaguing the cities is not their fault.—
Sarah Henry,
AZCentral.com,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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While folks all across the nation are grappling with torturous TSA lines, Joe Jonas actually had fun at the airport on Saturday.—
Madeleine Marr,
Miami Herald,
24 Mar. 2026
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The verified account, @realanndowd (not to be confused with Bald Ann Dowd), made its first post on March 18 — finally ending the torturous 5,642-day dry spell of there being no Ann Dowd on the app.—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
20 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The real minutes, tough minutes on the road, stressful.—
Daniel Sperry,
Kansas City Star,
26 Mar. 2026
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After those seven players, things get a little tough to project.—
Mike Kaye
March 26,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Unkind words and thoughts from your harshest critic (yourself) are all too common, especially for women, and their effects can diminish mood, confidence and self-esteem while positive ones can have the opposite impact.—
Helen Carefoot,
Flow Space,
26 Mar. 2026
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Those forces may give the president more leverage in his negotiations, but also risk fueling Tehran's resentment and provoking a harsher response, analysts say.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Excruciating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/excruciating. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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