excruciating

[ik-skroo-shee-ey-ting]

adjective

1. extremely painful; causing intense suffering; unbearably distressing; torturing: excruciating pain.

   an excruciating noise;

   excruciating pain.

   Synonyms: racking, agonizing, unendurable, insufferable, unbearable

2. exceedingly elaborate or intense; extreme.

   done with excruciating care.

excruciating

/ ɪkˈskruːʃɪˌeɪtɪŋ /

adjective

1. unbearably painful; agonizing

2. intense; extreme

   he took excruciating pains to do it well

3. informal,  irritating; trying

4. humorous,  very bad

   an excruciating pun

Other Word Forms

• excruciatingly adverb
• unexcruciating adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of excruciating¹

First recorded in 1655–65; excruciat(e) + -ing ²

Example Sentences

He and his team accumulated so much material that they had to cut dozens of profiles and recipes from the final product, a process that Wareheim called excruciating.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“And then having found the fortitude to do so, we begin the excruciating yet exquisite process of letting go.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“Smile” seems like kids’ stuff next to the excruciating blow-by-blow of “West End Girl,” which was recorded speedily last December.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The mother of a young woman who spent months in excruciating pain before her death has issued an urgent warning about the dangers of ketamine.

Read more on BBC

The quarterback lay on the ground in what looked to be excruciating pain for a moment, got up, ran to the sideline and flung his helmet in frustration.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• acute 
• agonizing 
• exquisite 
• grueling 
• harrowing 
• intense 
• searing 
• severe 
• unbearable