agonize
verb (used without object)
to suffer extreme pain or anguish; be in agony.
had been agonizing
-
past perfect progressiveof agonize.past perfect progressive
Used to describe an action that was ongoing continuously in the past up until another past event interrupted it.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Wood had been agonizing over what to say to convince the board to spare his life.
From Slate ● Mar. 6, 2026
Colin Kahl, the Pentagon's top policy adviser, acknowledged on Monday that the U.S. government had been "agonizing" over whether to send Ukraine cluster munitions for months, given the humanitarian concerns.
From Reuters ● Jul. 10, 2023
The president had been agonizing for months about the decision.
From New York Times ● Aug. 26, 2022
Mallory, meanwhile, said he had been agonizing about his failure to act during the recount.
From Washington Post ● Dec. 20, 2017
The gladness of this return, the sudden, overwhelming realization of a longing that had been agonizing in its intensity, excited the boy beyond bounds.
From The Mother by H. E. Fritz
