agonizing

[ ag-uh-nahy-zing ]
/ ˈæg əˌnaɪ zɪŋ /

adjective

accompanied by, filled with, or resulting in agony or distress: We spent an agonizing hour waiting to hear if the accident had been serious or not.

Origin of agonizing

First recorded in 1660–70; agonize + -ing2

OTHER WORDS FROM agonizing

ag·o·niz·ing·ly, adverb

Definition for agonizing (2 of 2)

agonize
[ ag-uh-nahyz ]
/ ˈæg əˌnaɪz /

verb (used without object), ag·o·nized, ag·o·niz·ing.

to suffer extreme pain or anguish; be in agony.
to put forth great effort of any kind.

verb (used with object), ag·o·nized, ag·o·niz·ing.

to distress with extreme pain; torture.
Also especially British, ag·o·nise.

Origin of agonize

1575–85; < Medieval Latin agōnizāre < Greek agōnízesthai to struggle (for a prize), equivalent to agōn- agon + -izesthai -ize

Example sentences from the Web for agonizing

British Dictionary definitions for agonizing

agonize

agonise

/ (ˈæɡəˌnaɪz) /

verb

to suffer or cause to suffer agony
(intr) to make a desperate effort; struggle; strive

Derived forms of agonize

agonizingly or agonisingly, adverb

Word Origin for agonize

C16: via Medieval Latin from Greek agōnizesthai to contend for a prize, from agōn agon