excruciating

[ ik-skroo-shee-ey-ting ]

adjective

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

   an excruciating noise;

   excruciating pain.

   Synonyms: unendurable, racking, agonizing, 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

Derived Forms

• exˈcruciˌatingly, adverb

Other Words From

• ex·cruci·ating·ly adverb
• unex·cruci·ating adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of excruciating¹

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

Related Words

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