AGONIZE Synonyms: 136 Similar and Opposite Words

agonize

verb

ˈa-gə-ˌnīz

Definition of agonize

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

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

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 drama, now streaming, traces her evolution from grieving mother to vengeful killer.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
As investigators search for answers, a restaurant is stepping in to help grieving families and those with loved ones in the hospital.

— Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of grieve

Verb

Speculation and conspiracy theories have plagued Kirk’s death, fueled even by public figures such as Candace Owens, a longtime friend of Kirk, who has been outspoken about her belief that his death was orchestrated in an elaborate plot.

— Mackenzie Chase, The Washington Examiner, 14 Oct. 2026
Hoover’s replacement has thus far been a miss, and the problem that plagued this program in losses in each of the last two years has not changed.

— Mac Engel October 14, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of plague

Verb

Rock band Pavlov’s Dog is mourning the loss of singer-songwriter and lead vocalist David Surkamp, who died Monday at age 74.

— Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
Dustin Hada, the head coach of Southern Nazarene’s football program, also mourned the loss of his player on social media.

— Scott Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of mourn

Verb

Love contains the seeds of its own destruction—the cruelty and self-absorption that turns the afflicted against one another, and themselves.

— Merve Emre, New Yorker, 8 Oct. 2026
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

Definition of afflict

Verb

The majority of patients don't have symptoms, but about one in five will experience symptoms two to six days after being bitten, including fever, headaches, body aches, joint pain, diarrhea, vomiting or a rash.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026
Moments of mutual support and understanding, of belly-aching laughter and silliness, of care and deep love.

— Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of ache

Verb

Hundreds of thousands of women were tried, tortured, and executed for witchcraft in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2026
According to Bilal and his brother Judy, neither Ahmed nor anyone else in his family had ever been arrested or tortured by the regime.

— Ben Taub, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of torture

Verb

The blunderbuss of violations of the basic decorum and dignity of democracy have become such a daily matter that the increasingly familiar response is to sigh and surrender.

— Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2026
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

Definition of sigh

Browse Nearby Words

agonistic

agonize

agonized

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“Agonize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/agonize. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of agonize

verb

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