agonize

verb

ˈa-gə-ˌnīz How to pronounce agonize (audio)
Definition of agonizenext
1
as in to persecute
to cause persistent suffering to got into more trouble, further agonizing her poor mother

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to grieve
to feel deep sadness or mental pain agonized for days over whether she'd done the right thing

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of agonize During deliberation, Commissioner Martinez openly agonized over Kissimmee’s dilemma. — Sara-James Ranta, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Aug. 2026 Samuel agonized the most after getting hit on a screen at the 5-yard line, apparently as his funny bone shot pain through his left arm. — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 16 Aug. 2026 In college, players, coaches and fans agonize over wins and losses. — Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 14 July 2026 Les Snead agonized over including defensive rookie of the year Jared Verse in the trade for Myles Garrett, but ultimately decided to make the move. — Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for agonize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for agonize
  1. persecute
  2. grieve
  3. plague
  4. mourn
  5. afflict
  6. ache
  7. torture
  8. sigh
Verb
  • Those governments provide assurances that people won’t be persecuted or tortured, federal attorneys said.
    — Lindsay Whitehurst, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Also, some immigration cases involve people seeking asylum because they are being persecuted by a foreign government and releasing a person’s full name could be considered sensitive or even dangerous.
    — Laura Tillman, Hartford Courant, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of persecute
Verb
  • The Prince is also grieving the death of his private secretary, Nicholas Turnbull, who passed away in September.
    — Stephanie Bridger-Linning, Vanity Fair, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Still grieving, Viard struggled to occupy the void left by Lagerfeld, whose larger-than-life personality loomed over the Paris fashion landscape and whose workload at Chanel spanned no fewer than 10 collections a year.
    — Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of grieve
Verb
  • As people suffer the effects of disease, the vampire rises to plague our nightmares.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Based on its survey work, Morgan Stanley believes the issues that plagued the second quarter was macro related and not something structurally tied to the TJX brand.
    — Jeff Marks, CNBC, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of plague
Verb
  • The Jimmy Kimmel Live family is mourning the death of costume designer Rodney Muñoz at age 60.
    — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2026
  • When the world mourned the death of a beloved monarch in 2023, Prince Edward was grieving the loss of his beloved cousin.
    — Stephanie Bridger-Linning, Vanity Fair, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of mourn
Verb
  • Engineers have also taken steps to ensure that a CFT-like thruster anomaly doesn't afflict future Starliner flights.
    — Mike Wall, Space.com, 28 Sep. 2026
  • While the epicenter was located in Nantou County in central Taiwan, serious damage afflicted residents across the island as roads buckled, bridges collapsed and landslides destroyed everything in their path.
    — Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of afflict
Verb
  • The summer Nicole Fusaro went missing, her mother walked up and down Philadelphia’s Kensington neighborhood until her feet ached.
    — Danny Freeman, CNN Money, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Symptoms can include leg heaviness, aching, swelling, throbbing and itching, Stoughton said.
    — Erica Sloan, Washington Post, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of ache
Verb
  • Some veterans say recruiters deceived them and Haitian authorities tortured them; their families call them scapegoats.
    — Astrid Suárez, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Alas, Hersh was to miss the flight because he was still being held hostage, starving, tortured, and surviving on that date in terrifying confinement.
    — Rachel Goldberg-Polin, Time, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of torture
Verb
  • When football fans saw three straight Primetime games on the NFL schedule for the Atlanta Falcons, there were some social media eye rolls, sighs and more, and who could blame them?
    — Scott Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Lifting a stem of cauliflower to his lips, my brother sighs deeply.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of sigh

Browse Nearby Words

agonistic
agonize
agonized
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Cite this Entry

“Agonize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/agonize. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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