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
Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 21 Jan. 2026
The first round of the International Tennis Federation’s W35 tournament, played on a clay court in Nairobi, Kenya, wouldn’t normally make much of a splash in the tennis world, but millions of people have now seen what transpired over 37 excruciating minutes in the capital.
—Don Riddell, CNN Money, 8 Jan. 2026
Along the way, his Colts had playoff appearances almost every year and an excruciating loss in an AFC Championship Game.
—Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2026
This is a precise and beautiful portrait of the moments, both excruciating and wonderful, that give life its meaning.
—Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for excruciating
Adjective
There’s a common misconception that auteur filmmakers like Anderson have every detail of their films planned out ahead of time in excruciating detail.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 21 Jan. 2026
The first round of the International Tennis Federation’s W35 tournament, played on a clay court in Nairobi, Kenya, wouldn’t normally make much of a splash in the tennis world, but millions of people have now seen what transpired over 37 excruciating minutes in the capital.
—Don Riddell, CNN Money, 8 Jan. 2026
Along the way, his Colts had playoff appearances almost every year and an excruciating loss in an AFC Championship Game.
—Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2026
This is a precise and beautiful portrait of the moments, both excruciating and wonderful, that give life its meaning.
—Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for excruciating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for excruciating
Adjective
-
Vietnam was inextricably linked to a wrenching era in American history, as Blacks were being compelled to fight a war on two fronts—for equality at home and a nation’s hubris abroad.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Feb. 2026
-
What's going on is absolutely heart-wrenching.—
Kiki Intarasuwan,
CBS News,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The film, a searing exploration of the country’s flawed prison system, also stars Rivals frontman Alex Hassell and British R&B artist Ray BLK.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Nowhere perhaps was the searing heat more evident than at Melbourne Park, where the usual crowds thronging outside the Australian Open tennis tournament dwindled to a ghost town as temperatures soared.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Four years later, at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, Gabrielle Daleman could only bury her face in her hands after the Canadian’s disappointing free skate, her painful reaction beamed to a global audience.—
Dave Skretta,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Feb. 2026
-
As painful as this pain deep in the heart is, the healing has already begun with all the outpouring of love, prayers, and support.—
Alejandra Gularte,
Vulture,
15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Many Olympians—Nordic skiers, for instance—pay a lot of attention to a measure called their VO2 max—the highest volume of oxygen your body can consume and use during a minute of intense exercise.—
Claire Cameron,
Scientific American,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Valentine’s Day in a first teen relationship should feel simple, sweet, and age-appropriate, not intense or pressured.—
Melissa Willets,
Parents,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Even cursory nods to the pandemic as the root cause of neighbors turning against neighbors aren’t explored so much as they’re acknowledged, as if viewers are somehow unaware of the polarization plaguing America.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
13 Feb. 2026
-
The House passed a bipartisan housing bill that would enact new policies to boost housing supply and ease the affordability crisis plaguing the nation.—
Zach Halaschak,
The Washington Examiner,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
These individually wrapped peanut butter and oat bites are a suitable lunch box treat, or fuel for people who take long bike rides and other torturous endurance sports.—
Alex Beggs,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
7 Feb. 2026
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The many comparisons the researchers tested show a torturous pathway to a significant finding.—
Eleanor M. Perfetto,
STAT,
7 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Most importantly, Alvarado relishes in his role as a tough-nosed, point-of-attack defender, an area the Knicks have had trouble despite building a roster with notable defenders across all positions.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
5 Feb. 2026
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With a durable and tough rubber sole featuring Vibram's TC5+ technology, each step offers the right amount of flex and resistance for a comfortable hiking experience.—
Michael Cappetta,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The energy output is designed to remain stable down to –50 degrees Celsius, supporting reliable operation in some of the harshest climates on Earth, reports InsideEVs.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Rapinchuk recommends only using non-toxic products when cleaning your refrigerator and avoiding anything with harsh chemicals, such as bleach and ammonia.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Excruciating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/excruciating. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.
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