1
as in wrenching
intensely or unbearably painful
he finally visited the doctor when the pain became too excruciating to ignore
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in intense
extreme in degree, power, or effect
the excruciating grief they felt upon the loss of their dear grandfather
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in plaguing
to cause persistent suffering to
she has long been excruciated by an undiagnosed pain in her knee
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 excruciating
Parker Crutchfield, STAT, 17 Feb. 2026
The descriptions of slavery are excruciating.
—The Know, Denver Post, 8 Feb. 2026
Instead, viewers were faced with one of the more excruciating scenes in recent sports memory as Vonn’s body went limp while rounding one of the course’s first gates.
—Sara Germano, Sportico.com, 8 Feb. 2026
For his family, the wait for justice has been excruciating.
—Larry Seward, CBS News, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for excruciating
Adjective
The teenager in agony after a crushed leg, or the 80 year old down the hall dying an excruciating death from cancer?
—Parker Crutchfield, STAT, 17 Feb. 2026
The descriptions of slavery are excruciating.
—The Know, Denver Post, 8 Feb. 2026
Instead, viewers were faced with one of the more excruciating scenes in recent sports memory as Vonn’s body went limp while rounding one of the course’s first gates.
—Sara Germano, Sportico.com, 8 Feb. 2026
For his family, the wait for justice has been excruciating.
—Larry Seward, CBS News, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for excruciating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for excruciating
Adjective
-
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
-
What's going on is absolutely heart-wrenching.—
Kiki Intarasuwan,
CBS News,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The scandal caused a searing public spotlight to be cast on UConn Health’s financial management practices.—
Kevin Rennie,
Hartford Courant,
28 Feb. 2026
-
The series is equal parts sweeping romance and searing exploration of fame and family in the social media age.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Sermon, his mentor, was in the midst of a painful split-up with his creative partner, PMD.—
Jayson Greene,
Pitchfork,
8 Mar. 2026
-
And, if that wasn't painful enough, your retirement savings takes a hit because the loan isn't getting paid back.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The tempo of the strikes on Iran was so intense that state television announced that public mourning for Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed at the start of the conflict, would be postponed.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Noem received a warm welcome from Republicans and intense criticism from Democrats.—
March 4,
CBS News,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The low-pitch frustration and helplessness plaguing Ann give Constance Zimmer good material to work with.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Microsoft, down 15% this year, is the largest stock swept up in the broader sell-off plaguing the software sector.—
Lisa Kailai Han,
CNBC,
4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The break was long and torturous for fans but clearly restorative for Styles, who lolled in the Italian countryside with Alessandro Michele, bonded with a new niece, and found himself unassumingly among the masses in the Vatican when the conclave elected Pope Leo XIV last June.—
Michelle Ruiz,
Vogue,
6 Mar. 2026
-
After a torturous 2025 season that featured one of the worst team pitching performances in major league history, the pitching think tank was overhauled.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Finales can be tough, given how viewers chime in on social media.—
Yvonne Villarreal,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
-
With the Royals negotiations collapsing with Kansas, the state may be able to get away with a tougher negotiating position.—
Jack Harvel,
Kansas City Star,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Engineers have long searched for efficient electric alternatives that can survive the harsh conditions inside industrial systems.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Critics say the danger faced by agents whose names are made public is overblown, almost always limited to harsh and violent words lobbed from behind a laptop or phone screen.—
James Queally,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Excruciating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/excruciating. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
