excruciating 1 of 2

adjective

ik-ˈskrü-shē-ˌā-tiŋ How to pronounce excruciating (audio)
Definition of excruciatingnext
1
as in wrenching
intensely or unbearably painful he finally visited the doctor when the pain became too excruciating to ignore

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2
as in searing
difficult to endure the excruciating heat that the settlers faced as they crossed the deserts of the Southwest

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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

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4
as in intense
extreme in degree, power, or effect the excruciating grief they felt upon the loss of their dear grandfather

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excruciating

2 of 2

verb

present participle of excruciate
as in plaguing
to cause persistent suffering to she has long been excruciated by an undiagnosed pain in her knee

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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 excruciating
Adjective
The threat to major oil companies that employ up to 100,000 workers must have been excruciating until vaccines eventually appeared to stem the tide. — Ian Dexter Palmer, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026 Graphic autopsy photos shown in court Before McDonald brought emotion to the witness stand, the day began with some testimony that appeared excruciating for the Shakur family. — Andy Rose, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026 Also, splitting the bill at the end of the evening is excruciating. — Judith Martin, Mercury News, 12 Aug. 2026 The trip to Mexico was also excruciating as everyone tried to balance parenting with partying. — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 8 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for excruciating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for excruciating
  1. wrenching
  2. searing
  3. painful
  4. intense
  5. plaguing
  6. torturous
  7. tough
  8. harsh
Adjective
  • Prosecutors plan to seek a two-year extension at an April hearing, and the families of both victims delivered wrenching impact statements in court.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Bono penned a wrenching tribute to Hansard on the day of his death.
    — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of wrenching
Adjective
  • The rolling mountain landscape becomes an undulating patchwork quilt of searing scarlets, terracottas, vermillions, and more.
    — Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Once the film was released, critics widely praised Page’s searing performance as the doomed Greek soldier Sinon, and even some of Page’s detractors online were won over by his work.
    — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of searing
Adjective
  • Be sure to start below the injury and wrap upward, overlapping each layer but never so tightly that fingers or toes become numb or painful.
    — Dr. Jill Grimes, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Its absence does not make the eventual adjustment less painful.
    — MICHAEL PETTIS, Foreign Affairs, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of painful
Adjective
  • Motion Applied brings experience from motorsport, where power electronics face rapid load changes and intense operating conditions.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 2 Sep. 2026
  • As if this weren’t enough for one day, Venus will also make its debut in the secretive and smoldering sign of Scorpio, where the love planet trades light-hearted flirtation for something deeper and way more intense.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of intense
Verb
  • And in contrast to most brands, Essence Cosmetics and Catrice revealed at the beginning of this year that despite the tariffs plaguing all industries, the company would not be raising prices.
    — Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 27 Aug. 2026
  • This is a snapshot of the current WNBA experience—unprecedented growth and great basketball at risk of being swallowed up by the same culture wars plaguing the broader political landscape.
    — Jemele Hill, The Atlantic, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of plaguing
Adjective
  • But, for the figures on the other end of the camera, the violation is often described as torturous.
    — Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2026
  • San Francisco has found many odd, obscure and torturous ways to lose this season.
    — Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of torturous
Adjective
  • Space-grade electronics will cost more, and the ball’s shell—made from a material tough enough to roll over steel shards and withstand minus 184 °C temperatures—has never been evaluated in lunar extremes.
    — IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Democratic leaders face tough decisions on where to spend limited party resources to win the Senate majority.
    — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of tough
Adjective
  • Scott London Every year, Black Rock City appears on a dry lakebed in one of Nevada’s harshest areas, then disappears just as fast.
    — Jim Dobson, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Hig has bunkered down with a grouchy companion, Bangley (Josh Brolin), who thrives in this harsh world.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of harsh

Browse Nearby Words

excruciates
excruciating
excruciation
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Cite this Entry

“Excruciating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/excruciating. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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