agonize

[ ag-uh-nahyz ]

verb (used without object)

, ag·o·nized, ag·o·niz·ing.

1. to suffer extreme pain or anguish; be in agony.
2. to put forth great effort of any kind.

verb (used with object)

, ag·o·nized, ag·o·niz·ing.

1. to distress with extreme pain; torture.

agonize

/ ˈæɡəˌnaɪz /

verb

1. to suffer or cause to suffer agony
2. intr to make a desperate effort; struggle; strive

Derived Forms

• ˈagoˌnizingly, adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of agonize¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of agonize¹

C16: via Medieval Latin from Greek agōnizesthai to contend for a prize, from agōn agon

Example Sentences

She agonizes over the fact that Heidi worried at the beginning of the pandemic that she might not survive if she contracted the coronavirus, although she had no known health complications.

From Washington Post

If you’re agonizing over the speed of your metabolism, you’re probably focused on how much energy you’re getting from the foods you eat and how much your body is using.

From Washington Post

I had spent the last year agonizing over the data, observing and asking questions.

From Nautilus

For months, parents, coaches and health officers across the region and throughout the country have agonized over the risks of young athletes taking the field or the court in the midst of a pandemic.

From Washington Post

If you imagine, agonize, and stew about worst-case scenarios, it actually forces your brain to live every dark and scary situation you can conjure up.

From Popular-Science

The key is how much we can brood, and what is meant by brooding—is it to daydream, or is it to agonize over every detail?

From The Daily Beast

The revenge factor would have been an added bonus, but really, what I wanted was for people to agonize over why I'd done it.

From The Daily Beast

Parents stood up to agonize about their responsibility, as cosigners, for the loans of their now unemployed offspring.

From The Daily Beast

Too far gone to agonize in prayer, I could only quietly, almost mutely, just tell him how the poor child had no clothes.

From Project Gutenberg

Yet, dying, I agonize to live, and fear to drink the last drop of that bitter cup.

From Project Gutenberg

Here now you shall agonize unheeded: gaolers and governors as well as black cells just to teach you.

From Project Gutenberg

Let who will sweat and agonize for the sake of a new truth, or a newer and purer form of an old one.

From Project Gutenberg

It has not a single social problem around which the characters move and argue and agonize.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• disturb
• excruciate
• harrow
• lament