excruciating
adjective
ex·cru·ci·at·ing ik-ˈskrü-shē-ˌā-tiŋ 
1
: causing great pain or anguish : agonizing
the nation's most excruciating dilemma
W. H. Ferry
W. H. Ferry2
: very intense : extreme
excruciating pain
excruciatingly
ik-ˈskrü-shē-ˌā-tiŋ-lē
adverb 
Synonyms
- agonizing
- harrowing
- racking
- raging
- tormenting
- torturing
- torturous
- wrenching
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
I have an excruciating headache. an excruciating moment of embarrassment They described their vacation in excruciating detail.
Recent Examples on the Web Those two songs alone are so excruciating it’s not worth delving into the 30-minute suite about Gettysburg. Andy O'connor, SPIN, 14 Sep. 2022 Some people, hoping against hope, subject their animals to excruciating courses of radiation and chemotherapy in an effort to buy a few more months of companionship. New York Times, 26 July 2022 This is bad news for the Americans with monkeypox who like Brown suffer from excruciating physical pain or other severe outcomes from the infection and who are desperate for treatment to speed their healing. Benjamin Ryan, NBC News, 22 July 2022 The whole event is, of course, excruciating for Jimmy and Kim, two of the three people most responsible for the death of the man being honored here. Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 19 July 2022 In Ukraine, a national hero faces excruciating decisions in the weeks and months to come. Michael Brendan Dougherty, National Review, 11 Mar. 2022 This friend has been trustingly open toward me, about often excruciating experiences, teaching me about exceptional resilience and creativity in the face of adversity. San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Feb. 2022 Its aesthetic — what look like evocative oil paintings conveying the stories swing from fantastic reality to excruciating deprivation — is idiosyncratic and highly expressive. Michael Ordoña, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2021 The wellbeing of the future is more about all around health and happiness than excruciating workouts and impossible diets. Bridget Arsenault, Forbes, 5 Sep. 2021 See More
Andy O'connor, SPIN, 14 Sep. 2022 Some people, hoping against hope, subject their animals to excruciating courses of radiation and chemotherapy in an effort to buy a few more months of companionship. New York Times, 26 July 2022 This is bad news for the Americans with monkeypox who like Brown suffer from excruciating physical pain or other severe outcomes from the infection and who are desperate for treatment to speed their healing. Benjamin Ryan, NBC News, 22 July 2022 The whole event is, of course, excruciating for Jimmy and Kim, two of the three people most responsible for the death of the man being honored here. Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 19 July 2022 In Ukraine, a national hero faces excruciating decisions in the weeks and months to come. Michael Brendan Dougherty, National Review, 11 Mar. 2022 This friend has been trustingly open toward me, about often excruciating experiences, teaching me about exceptional resilience and creativity in the face of adversity. San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Feb. 2022 Its aesthetic — what look like evocative oil paintings conveying the stories swing from fantastic reality to excruciating deprivation — is idiosyncratic and highly expressive. Michael Ordoña, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2021 The wellbeing of the future is more about all around health and happiness than excruciating workouts and impossible diets. Bridget Arsenault, Forbes, 5 Sep. 2021 See More Word History
First Known Use
1599, in the meaning defined at sense 1
excruciating 1 of 2
adjective
1
as in agonizing
intensely or unbearably painful he finally visited the doctor when the pain became too excruciating to ignore Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- agonizing
- wrenching
- torturous
- intense
- raging
- torturing
- harrowing
- extreme
- violent
- acute
- exquisite
- tormenting
- biting
- stabbing
- fierce
- racking
- tingling
- vehement
- stinging
- tearing
- piercing
- shooting
- penetrating
- sharp
- cutting
- smarting
2
as in searing
difficult to endure the excruciating heat that the settlers faced as they crossed the deserts of the Southwest Synonyms & Similar Words
- searing
- tough
- harsh
- brutal
- oppressive
- severe
- painful
- hard
- trying
- rough
- cruel
- grim
- onerous
- burdensome
- grievous
- inhuman
- heavy
- unbearable
- murderous
- bleak
- bitter
- agonizing
- uncomfortable
- rugged
- unpleasant
- stiff
- hardhanded
- rigorous
- overwhelming
- bad
- unendurable
- intolerable
- heartbreaking
- discomforting
- strict
- inhospitable
- spartan
- forbidding
- tortuous
- harrowing
- crushing
- insufferable
- austere
- grinding
- stringent
- biting
- comfortless
- inclement
- intemperate
- wretched
- heartrending
- wild
- insupportable
- wearing
- disagreeable
- hostile
- unfriendly
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- easy
- light
- soft
- pleasant
- comfortable
- luxurious
- agreeable
- friendly
- bearable
- tolerable
- cozy
- painless
- peaceful
- hospitable
- relaxing
- restful
- mild
- genial
- moderate
- gentle
- endurable
- calm
- snug
- balmy
- temperate
- reposeful
- clement
3
as in painful
hard to accept or bear especially emotionally most excruciating of all was the endless wait for news of any survivors of the plane crash Synonyms & Similar Words
- painful
- harsh
- cruel
- torturous
- agonizing
- horrible
- harrowing
- terrible
- unbearable
- severe
- awful
- grievous
- bitter
- unacceptable
- hurtful
- dreadful
- tormenting
- intolerable
- galling
- afflicting
- heartrending
- intense
- appalling
- unendurable
- miserable
- bad
- extreme
- insufferable
- acute
- dire
- ghastly
- vile
- wretched
- nasty
- insupportable
- unsupportable
- piercing
- rotten
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- gratifying
- bearable
- sweet
- tolerable
- pleasing
- endurable
- sustainable
- acceptable
- survivable
- reasonable
- supportable
- allowable
- livable
- sufferable
- liveable
4
as in intense
extreme in degree, power, or effect the excruciating grief they felt upon the loss of their dear grandfather Synonyms & Similar Words
- intense
- intensive
- terrible
- fierce
- ferocious
- deep
- furious
- profound
- acute
- dreadful
- heavy
- violent
- ghastly
- vicious
- exquisite
- frightful
- blistering
- explosive
- fearful
- hellacious
- fearsome
- intensified
- hard
- vehement
- heightened
- almighty
- aggravated
- severe
- harsh
- keen
- accentuated
- exhaustive
- concentrated
- magnified
- deepened
- enhanced
- heavy-duty
- stressed
- thorough
- emphasized
- rigorous
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- moderate
- weak
- feeble
- light
- soft
- superficial
- eased
- shallow
- reduced
- diminished
- decreased
- subdued
- qualified
- toned (down)
- moderated
- lessened
- alleviated
- lightened
- abated
excruciating
2 of 2verb
as in plaguing
to cause persistent suffering to she has long been excruciated by an undiagnosed pain in her knee Synonyms & Similar Words
- plaguing
- afflicting
- agonizing
- persecuting
- torturing
- harrowing
- anguishing
- tormenting
- cursing
- besieging
- troubling
- bothering
- stinging
- bedeviling
- attacking
- besetting
- racking
- aggravating
- overwhelming
- annoying
- exasperating
- disturbing
- irritating
- distressing
- striking
- discomforting
- vexing
- worrying
- disquieting
- upsetting
- badgering
- pursuing
- galling
- harassing
- irking
- chafing
- grieving
- trying
- hurting
- perturbing
- nettling
- griping
- hounding
- stabbing
- grating
- dogging
- assailing
- stressing
- pestering
- riding
- harrying
- smarting
- bugging
- overpowering
- straining
- agitating
- rasping
- oppressing
- crushing
- molesting
- paining
- riling
- pricking
- smiting
- flustering
- peeving
- victimizing
- tyrannizing
- panging
- putting out
- piquing
- wringing
- discomposing
- hagriding
- getting
- martyring
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- assisting
- aiding
- helping
- relieving
- abetting
- comforting
- delivering
- soothing
- releasing
- consoling
- quieting
- solacing
- contenting
- succoring
- reprieving