as in weeping
expressing or suggesting mourning
one look at his agonized, tearful eyes and it was clear that something was terribly wrong
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in plagued
to cause persistent suffering to
got into more trouble, further agonizing her poor mother
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in grieved
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 agonized
Edward Segarra, USA Today, 31 Oct. 2025
After the long commerical break that cohost Julianne Hough made an agonized Fishel and Pashkov wait through to receive their scores, they were relieved to earn a 29, from three 7s and Tonioli's 8.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Oct. 2025
Nathaniel Weixel, The Hill, 21 Nov. 2025
The Canadian musician had agonized over writing the song in the first place.
—NPR, 6 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for agonized
Adjective
Instead, his agonized facial expressions, brought on by an overwhelming vampiric thirst, come across like a bad impersonation of a food allergy.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 31 Oct. 2025
After the long commerical break that cohost Julianne Hough made an agonized Fishel and Pashkov wait through to receive their scores, they were relieved to earn a 29, from three 7s and Tonioli's 8.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Oct. 2025
Verb
Cassidy agonized about supporting Kennedy’s confirmation due to his record of anti-vaccine views, but ultimately cast the deciding vote for his nomination after receiving assurances about vaccine policy.
—Nathaniel Weixel, The Hill, 21 Nov. 2025
The Canadian musician had agonized over writing the song in the first place.
—NPR, 6 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for agonized
Recent Examples of Synonyms for agonized
Adjective
-
And every day, across from them, outside the clinic, about to enter or just leaving, there were women hugging each other and weeping.—
David Mamet,
National Review,
11 Aug. 2022
-
The show manages to stay on the brink — always laughing, never quite weeping — for its entire length.—
Helen Shaw,
Vulture,
8 Dec. 2021
Verb
-
Staffing shortages have plagued the grocery industry since the COVID-19 pandemic.—
Francesca Pica,
jsonline.com,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Exploding power lines evoked the electrical outages that have plagued Puerto Rico in recent years.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Chung adds that her decision to preserve MisTricks in this way has been a source of comfort as she's grieved the death of her pup.—
Luke Chinman,
PEOPLE,
3 Feb. 2026
-
After their murders, their families sat in the bitter cold and grieved, waiting for the prime minister, Imran Khan, to come and mourn with them.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Such memories flowed freely this week on social media and in mournful first-person essays.—
Dan Adler,
Vanity Fair,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Newsom shakes his head, seeming more mournful than angry.—
Maya Singer,
Vogue,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The Secret Agent’s primary setting is a house full of misfits and refugees in the northeastern city of Recife, a safe harbor from those persecuted by the country’s military regime, ruled over by the inimitable Dona Sebastiana (Tânia Maria, whose role was written specifically for her).—
Nate Jones,
Vulture,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Trump has promised to help rescue the country’s persecuted protesters as thousands died.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
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His death was also mourned on Instagram by artists including Creed, Godsmack, Daughtry and Sevendust.—
Brian Niemietz,
Mercury News,
8 Feb. 2026
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The Factbook's demise drew immediate concern from people who frequently rely on it for their work, as Reddit groups for teachers, librarians and travel agents mourned its passing.—
Bill Chappell,
NPR,
7 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Martin, meanwhile, left heartbroken.—
Brendan Quinn,
New York Times,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Though heartbroken, Punsalan and Swallow decided to compete at Lillehammer anyway.—
Natasha O'Neill,
Vanity Fair,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Embarrassment could have been a factor in the rash decision, but Trump is not a man who appears to be afflicted by that particular emotion, which takes its cue from a certain amount of self-awareness and humility.—
Jessica Gelt,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
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Thus, taxpayers are often stuck financing underperforming government programs riddled with waste and outright fraud, as was the case in the recent $30 billion scandal that afflicted the state’s unemployment insurance program.—
Lanhee J. Chen,
Mercury News,
31 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Agonized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/agonized. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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