excruciating

adjective

ex·​cru·​ci·​at·​ing ik-ˈskrü-shē-ˌā-tiŋ 

1

: causing great pain or anguish : agonizing

the nation's most excruciating dilemma

—W. H. Ferry

2

: very intense : extreme

excruciating pain

excruciatingly

ik-ˈskrü-shē-ˌā-tiŋ-lē 

adverb

Synonyms

• agonizing
• harrowing
• racking
• raging
• tormenting
• torturing
• torturous
• wrenching

Examples of excruciating in a Sentence

I have an excruciating headache.

an excruciating moment of embarrassment

They described their vacation in excruciating detail.

Recent Examples on the Web

After an excruciating wait, the parole board came back with a decision. —Erin Moriarty, Liza Finley, CBS News, 4 May 2025

In his memoir My Next Breath, released April 29, the Oscar nominee detailed the January 2023 experience in excruciating detail. —Jack Smart, People.com, 1 May 2025

Then the plane smashed into the ground, and the excruciating pain and suffering of those unlucky enough to be on board that day began. —Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 27 Apr. 2025

Listen to this article 2 min Three-time Pro Bowl tight end Mark Andrews received the lion's share of the blame after the Baltimore Ravens' playoff run came to an abrupt and excruciating end. —Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 24 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1599, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for excruciating

• accelerating
• accentuating
• accommodating
• accumulating
• adjudicating
• administrating
• affiliating
• agglutinating
• alienating
• alleviating
• amalgamating
• ameliorating

Kids Definition

excruciating

adjective

ex·​cru·​ci·​at·​ing

ik-ˈskrü-shē-ˌāt-iŋ

1

: causing great mental or physical pain : agonizing

excruciating torture

an excruciating decision to leave

2

: very severe

excruciating pain

excruciatingly

-iŋ-lē

adverb

Etymology

derived from Latin excruciatus, past participle of excruciare "to torture," from ex- "out of, from" and cruciare "to torment, crucify," from cruc-, crux "cross" — related to cross, crucial, crucify