excruciating

[ ik-skroo-shee-ey-ting ]
/ ɪkˈskru ʃiˌeɪ tɪŋ /

adjective

extremely painful; causing intense suffering; unbearably distressing; torturing: an excruciating noise; excruciating pain.
exceedingly elaborate or intense; extreme: done with excruciating care.

Origin of excruciating

First recorded in 1655–65; excruciate + -ing2

OTHER WORDS FROM excruciating

ex·cru·ci·at·ing·ly, adverb un·ex·cru·ci·at·ing, adjective

Definition for excruciating (2 of 2)

excruciate
[ ik-skroo-shee-eyt ]
/ ɪkˈskru ʃiˌeɪt /

verb (used with object), ex·cru·ci·at·ed, ex·cru·ci·at·ing.

to inflict severe pain upon; torture: The headache excruciated him.
to cause mental anguish to; irritate greatly.

Origin of excruciate

1560–70; < Latin excruciātus, past participle of excruciāre to torment, torture, equivalent to ex- ex-1 + cruciāre to torment, crucify (derivative of crux cross); see -ate1

Example sentences from the Web for excruciating

British Dictionary definitions for excruciating (1 of 2)

excruciating
/ (ɪkˈskruːʃɪˌeɪtɪŋ) /

adjective

unbearably painful; agonizing
intense; extreme he took excruciating pains to do it well
informal irritating; trying
jocular very bad an excruciating pun

Derived forms of excruciating

excruciatingly, adverb

British Dictionary definitions for excruciating (2 of 2)

excruciate
/ (ɪkˈskruːʃɪˌeɪt) /

verb (tr)

to inflict mental suffering on; torment
obsolete to inflict physical pain on; torture

Derived forms of excruciate

excruciation, noun

Word Origin for excruciate

C16: from Latin excruciāre, from cruciāre to crucify, from crux cross