1
as in to persecute
to cause persistent suffering to
got into more trouble, further agonizing her poor mother
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to grieve
to feel deep sadness or mental pain
agonized for days over whether she'd done the right thing
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of agonize
Some news organizations have agonized over whether to carry Mr. Trump — and his penchant for falsehoods — live on air.
—
Benjamin Mullin, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2025
During a meeting Tuesday hosted by the American Council on Education, college officials agonized over what the freeze would mean for minority-serving schools.
—Zachary Schermele, USA TODAY, 31 Jan. 2025
The team agonized over the shoot and post-production, intent on making a pilot that was ready to air, not just a proof of concept.
—Aaron Couch, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Jan. 2025
Trouble is, the world and America’s rivals don’t stand still while the West agonizes thus internally and shrinks from its global commitments.
—Melik Kaylan, Forbes, 29 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for agonize
Benjamin Mullin, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2025
During a meeting Tuesday hosted by the American Council on Education, college officials agonized over what the freeze would mean for minority-serving schools.
—Zachary Schermele, USA TODAY, 31 Jan. 2025
The team agonized over the shoot and post-production, intent on making a pilot that was ready to air, not just a proof of concept.
—Aaron Couch, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Jan. 2025
Trouble is, the world and America’s rivals don’t stand still while the West agonizes thus internally and shrinks from its global commitments.
—Melik Kaylan, Forbes, 29 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for agonize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for agonize
Verb
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Rwanda has claimed the Tutsis are being persecuted by Hutus and former militias responsible for the 1994 genocide of 800,000 Tutsis and others in Rwanda.—
CHINEDU ASADU,
arkansasonline.com,
17 Feb. 2025
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Miller wrote the play as an allegory for McCarthyism, when the U.S. government persecuted people of being communists.—
Contributed Content,
Twin Cities,
7 Feb. 2025
Verb
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What’s the right way to grieve when the act won’t forgive a crime?—
Robert Abele,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2025
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Amid the busy work of grief, the young women have no real time to grieve for themselves.—
Justin Chang,
The New Yorker,
7 Mar. 2025
Verb
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As the title hints, the relationship was plagued with disagreements, and the artist soon abandoned her original idea for a collaboration with the organization.—
Fabiola Iza,
Artforum,
1 Mar. 2025
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How to tackle money problems right now Besides taxes, inflation is plaguing Americans' money worries.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA TODAY,
28 Feb. 2025
Verb
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On Sunday, Battle’s cousins mourned in a relative’s apartment about a half-mile away from the shooting scene.—
John Annese,
New York Daily News,
9 Mar. 2025
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In a statement posted to Instagram Thursday, Parton mourned Dean's death.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA TODAY,
7 Mar. 2025
Verb
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This, in turn, led to waves of protest and a series of arsons that afflicted 24 churches over the next two years.—
The Editors,
National Review,
28 Feb. 2025
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Egg prices have jumped to all-time highs due in part to an outbreak of avian flu, or bird flu, that has been afflicting egg-laying hens in the US since 2022.—
Jennifer Hauser,
CNN,
28 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Last month, that aching search came to an end when Aziz was found safe about 1,400 miles away in Douglas County, Colorado.—
Marlene Lenthang,
NBC News,
6 Mar. 2025
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Her ordeal is very real — her jaw hurts from those mysterious dental procedures, and her hand aches from writing thank you cards to fictional friends and family — but Mark’s experience only exists in his memories.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
28 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Caro Quintero and others then allegedly sought revenge, kidnapping Salazar and torturing him, before killing him.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
28 Feb. 2025
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Rami’s unhappy family splinters over love and politics; an opponent of both the monarchy and Saddam Hussein in the 1950s and 1960s, Rami is imprisoned and tortured, eventually escaping to gain asylum in France.—
Lisa Anderson,
Foreign Affairs,
25 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The flight attendant sighed, took a step back without leaving the scene, busied himself with brushing invisible crumbs off his uniform.—
Daniel D'Addario,
Variety,
17 Feb. 2025
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Trump’s mandate The president on Monday sighed DOGE into law through an executive order.—
William Gavin,
Quartz,
23 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Agonize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/agonize. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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