agonizing

adjective

ag·​o·​niz·​ing ˈa-gə-ˌnī-ziŋ How to pronounce agonizing (audio)
Synonyms of agonizingnext
: causing agony
an agonizing injury
agonizingly adverb

Examples of agonizing in a Sentence

a long and agonizing battle with cancer She made the agonizing decision to cancel the trip. The agonizing wait was finally over. He was in agonizing pain.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Like many founders before me, the decision was agonizing. David Yi, Allure, 23 Feb. 2026 Instead, the child was taken by ambulance to a facility in Miami owned by the same company and was operated on four agonizing days later. Arthur E. Palamara, Sun Sentinel, 22 Feb. 2026 These Olympics will leave a lasting legacy, from Lindsey Vonn to the Quad God, Mikaela Shiffrin’s and Alysa Liu’s redemptive golds, a pair of USA-Canada hockey finals and the agonizing hum of the fast-flying drone cameras. Garrett Chorpenning, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2026 Marco Bellocchio‘s six-episode Italian-language drama is a living nightmare of the past that doubles as an agonizing manifestation of the present — a potent reminder that widespread stupidity isn’t confined to a single time or place. Ben Travers, IndieWire, 20 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for agonizing

Word History

Etymology

from present participle of agonize

First Known Use

1570, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of agonizing was in 1570

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Cite this Entry

“Agonizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/agonizing. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.

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