excruciating

adjective

ex·​cru·​ci·​at·​ing ik-ˈskrü-shē-ˌā-tiŋ How to pronounce excruciating (audio)
Synonyms of excruciating
1
: causing great pain or anguish : agonizing
… the nation's most excruciating dilemma …—W. H. Ferry
2
: very intense : extreme
excruciating pain
excruciatingly
ik-ˈskrü-shē-ˌā-tiŋ-lē How to pronounce excruciating (audio)
adverb

Synonyms of excruciating

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Examples of excruciating in a Sentence

I have an excruciating headache. an excruciating moment of embarrassment They described their vacation in excruciating detail.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
If the excruciating minutiae of this play by play is getting to you somewhat, that’s because the scene was spelt out exactly this way. — Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026 Also, splitting the bill at the end of the evening is excruciating. — Judith Martin, Mercury News, 12 Aug. 2026 Waiting for treatment to start can be an excruciating period for cancer patients. — Angus Chen, STAT, 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

Word History

First Known Use

1599, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of excruciating was in 1599

Rhymes for excruciating

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Browse Nearby Words

excruciate
excruciating
excruciation
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Cite this Entry

“Excruciating.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/excruciating. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

excruciating

adjective
ex·​cru·​ci·​at·​ing
ik-ˈskrü-shē-ˌāt-iŋ
1
: causing great mental or physical pain : agonizing
excruciating torture
an excruciating decision to leave
2
: very severe
excruciating pain
excruciatingly
-iŋ-lē
adverb
Etymology

derived from Latin excruciatus, past participle of excruciare "to torture," from ex- "out of, from" and cruciare "to torment, crucify," from cruc-, crux "cross" — related to cross, crucial, crucify

More from Merriam-Webster on excruciating

Nglish: Translation of excruciating for Spanish Speakers

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