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
Relevance
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
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.
Recent Examples of agonized
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
14 Jan. 2026
Cannon’s agonized face fills the frame.
—
E. Tammy Kim,
New Yorker,
17 Dec. 2025
Hadley Hall Meares,
Vanity Fair,
26 Dec. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for agonized
Adjective
But there’s plenty of agonized screaming, as well as lots of closeups of terrified faces.
—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
14 Jan. 2026
Cannon’s agonized face fills the frame.
—
E. Tammy Kim,
New Yorker,
17 Dec. 2025
Verb
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
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
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.
-
The show manages to stay on the brink — always laughing, never quite weeping — for its entire length.
Verb
-
Silva served as Stockton’s mayor from 2013 to 2017, a term that was plagued by scandal.
-
Drafted in the sixth round, Smack is tasked with stabilizing a position that has plagued Green Bay since Mason Crosby's departure.
Verb
-
While the family grieved, the Willard Police Department got to work.
-
The other thing most people miss is the sheer scale of what’s actually being grieved.
Adjective
-
The years have only intensified Zimmerman’s mournful, hushed vocal performance, and Dream Me a Dream often plays out like a bedtime story spun by a beloved elder, accompanied by soft strings, shakers, and even a synth or two.
-
The drama can stir up nostalgia and mournful emotions, and feels personal to many.
Verb
-
In Britain, all the large predators had long since been exterminated and the smaller ones (like foxes) were ruthlessly persecuted.
-
Supporting people who have too often been, and continue to be, persecuted and othered would be a direct way to address the suffering.
Verb
-
Noticias Telemundo confirmed the deaths with Trejo’s soccer club, Club Sport Marítimo de La Guaira, which mourned the tragic loss of their player’s family.
-
He was mourned by friends and family Sands' funeral details were kept private by the family, but several people close to the actor publicly spoke out about his death.
Adjective
-
The courtroom was packed with heartbroken supporters wanting justice for Jor'Dynn as each woman stood silent in front of the judge.
-
There is nothing more evocative of a pure Love Island experience than a heartbroken rage split in costume.
Verb
-
Jude, meanwhile, was shifting from tossing cones to tugging at his ears, afflicted with the same malady that had landed several of the toddlers on the room’s version of the injury list.
-
They are both afflicted by cognitive and/or hearing issues.
Cite this Entry
“Agonized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/agonized. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
