agonize
verb
ag·o·nize
ˈa-gə-ˌnīz 
agonized; agonizing
1
: to suffer agony, torture, or anguish
agonizes over every decision
2
: struggle
… baseless wisdom … requires that a writer … must agonize … for a minimum of two years for each one that he spends writing.—
George V. Higgins
George V. HigginsExamples of agonize in a Sentence
got into more trouble, further agonizing her poor mother
agonized for days over whether she'd done the right thing
Recent Examples on the Web
McClarnon, 59, not only stars but produces, directs and agonizes about getting it right.
—Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 15 Feb. 2026
This wasn’t a decision that NBC Sports president Rick Cordella had to agonize over, as Snoop’s performance as the Olympics’ Ambassador of Good Vibes essentially functioned as a masterclass in what makes for good TV.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 13 Feb. 2026
Cristobal agonized for days about what to do.
—CBS News, 14 Jan. 2026
The Look An admittedly anxious and insecure person, Keaton agonized about her looks from an early age.
—Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 26 Dec. 2025
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Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 15 Feb. 2026
This wasn’t a decision that NBC Sports president Rick Cordella had to agonize over, as Snoop’s performance as the Olympics’ Ambassador of Good Vibes essentially functioned as a masterclass in what makes for good TV.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 13 Feb. 2026
Cristobal agonized for days about what to do.
—CBS News, 14 Jan. 2026
The Look An admittedly anxious and insecure person, Keaton agonized about her looks from an early age.
—Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 26 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for agonize
Cite this Entry
“Agonize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/agonize. Accessed 18 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
agonize
verb
ag·o·nize
ˈag-ə-ˌnīz
agonized; agonizing
: to suffer or cause to suffer extreme pain or anguish of body or mind
agonizingly
adverb
-ˌnī-ziŋ-lē
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