agonize

American  

[ag-uh-nahyz] / ˈæg əˌnaɪz /

especially British, agonise

verb (used without object)

agonized, agonizing

1. to suffer extreme pain or anguish; be in agony.

2. to put forth great effort of any kind.

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verb (used with object)

agonized, agonizing

1. to distress with extreme pain; torture.

agonize British  

/ ˈæɡəˌnaɪz /

verb

1. to suffer or cause to suffer agony

2. (intr) to make a desperate effort; struggle; strive

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Other Word Forms

• agonizingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of agonize

1575–85; < Medieval Latin agōnizāre < Greek agōnízesthai to struggle (for a prize), equivalent to agōn- agon + -izesthai -ize

Example Sentences

For several years they were blissfully free of loud colleagues and agonizing small talk.

From The Wall Street Journal

Marat had an agonizing skin condition, which is why he worked in his bath.

From The Wall Street Journal

Oh, the visitors will agonize over some of the bizarre calls, some deserving of further explanation from the NFL.

From Los Angeles Times

Only much later did I find out what agonized him, when I approached his booth and asked if he was taking requests.

From Salon

Instead what unfolded was an agonizing sequence that shows why Mahomes and the Chiefs are on the brink of missing the playoffs for the first time in his career.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• disturb
• excruciate
• harrow
• lament