Synonyms of excruciating

excruciating 1 of 2

adjective

ik-ˈskrü-shē-ˌā-tiŋ 

1

as in wrenching

intensely or unbearably painful

he finally visited the doctor when the pain became too excruciating to ignore

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

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

• searing
• tough
• harsh
• oppressive
• brutal
• severe
• hard
• rough
• painful
• trying
• cruel
• grim
• onerous
• burdensome
• heavy
• grievous
• inhuman
• bitter
• murderous
• bleak
• rugged
• unbearable
• stiff
• uncomfortable
• agonizing
• unpleasant
• hardhanded
• discomforting
• rigorous
• strict
• overwhelming
• bad
• inhospitable
• intolerable
• crushing
• unendurable
• forbidding
• stringent
• spartan
• austere
• inclement
• biting
• comfortless
• tortuous
• heartbreaking
• insufferable
• harrowing
• intemperate
• wretched
• grinding
• wild
• heartrending
• insupportable
• disagreeable
• hostile
• wearing
• unfriendly

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• easy
• light
• soft
• comfortable
• pleasant
• luxurious
• agreeable
• friendly
• cozy
• hospitable
• peaceful
• genial
• tolerable
• bearable
• restful
• relaxing
• painless
• mild
• moderate
• gentle
• calm
• snug
• endurable
• temperate
• balmy
• reposeful
• clement

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

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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

• intense
• intensive
• terrible
• fierce
• ferocious
• deep
• furious
• profound
• heavy
• acute
• violent
• dreadful
• vicious
• ghastly
• explosive
• exquisite
• blistering
• frightful
• fearful
• fearsome
• hard
• vehement
• hellacious
• intensified
• keen
• heavy-duty
• aggravated
• almighty
• harsh
• severe
• heightened
• concentrated
• magnified
• enhanced
• exhaustive
• thorough
• stressed
• deepened
• accentuated
• rigorous
• emphasized

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• moderate
• light
• weak
• soft
• feeble
• superficial
• shallow
• eased
• qualified
• decreased
• reduced
• moderated
• diminished
• toned (down)
• subdued
• alleviated
• lessened
• lightened
• abated

excruciating

2 of 2

verb

present participle of excruciate

as in plaguing

to cause persistent suffering to

she has long been excruciated by an undiagnosed pain in her knee

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of excruciating

Adjective

Waiting for treatment to start can be an excruciating period for cancer patients. — Angus Chen, STAT, 12 Aug. 2026

The trip to Mexico was also excruciating as everyone tried to balance parenting with partying. — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 8 Aug. 2026

The ancient Romans apparently ground their hairs into an excruciating poison. — Ben Crair, New Yorker, 31 July 2026

The contents of Fauci’s diary, revealed this past weekend and published online by Senator Rand Paul, are—there is no other way to put it—embarrassing to an excruciating degree. — Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 29 July 2026