# agonizing

/ˈæɡənaɪzɪŋ/ (US) · CEFR C1 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/agonizing
Updated: 2026-05-18

## Definition

causing extreme physical or mental pain. You use this to describe something that is very difficult to watch or experience.

For teachers: causing extreme physical or mental suffering; extremely difficult to endure. Often used to describe processes, experiences, or situations that are slow and painful.

## Examples

- The long wait for the results was agonizing.
- The athlete endured an agonizing recovery process after the serious knee injury during the championship game.
- The public's agonizing wait for the truth was finally ended when the investigation concluded that the accident was caused by a mechanical failure rather than human error.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.