agonizing

adjective

ag·​o·​niz·​ing ˈa-gə-ˌnī-ziŋ How to pronounce agonizing (audio)
: causing agony
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.
An agonizing and eventful 42 minutes later, elation erupted throughout the century-old ballpark as rookie catcher Carlos Narváez clocked a single off the wall for a 2-1 walk-off win for the Red Sox in the 10th inning. Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 14 June 2025 An alligator that narrowly escaped poachers in Florida was left in an agonizing predicament when a cord cinched to its head began slicing off its nose, a YouTube video shows. Mark Price, Miami Herald, 13 June 2025 There is nothing worse than running into your toxic ex over a tepid cheese plate, or making agonizing small talk with your drunk boss at the office holiday soiree, or being trapped in the stripper-pole party bus on the bachelorette weekend from hell. Literary Hub, 10 June 2025 Texas Tech has never had a season this brilliant, but Texas’ postseason story has been riddled with agonizing defeat as the Longhorns have lost in 2022 and 2024 in the championship series. Allison Smith, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025 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 18 Jun. 2025.

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