agonizes

verb

present tense third-person singular of agonize
1
as in persecutes
to cause persistent suffering to got into more trouble, further agonizing her poor mother

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in grieves
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 agonizes Her ex-husband, a good father, refuses to move the boy to the town and Eden agonizes about taking the boy from his friends and school in the Twin Cities. — Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 12 Apr. 2026 McClarnon, 59, not only stars but produces, directs and agonizes about getting it right. — Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 15 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for agonizes
  1. persecutes
  2. grieves
  3. plagues
  4. mourns
  5. afflicts
  6. sighs
  7. tortures
  8. aches
Verb
  • China, which jails human rights activists in Hong Kong, persecutes Uyghurs, has killed hundreds of thousands of Tibetans and has committed genocide against the Falun Gong, is on the UN Human Rights Council.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 18 Feb. 2026
  • In Russia, the civilian repressive apparatus persecutes the military, which leaps at every chance for revenge.
    — Stephen Kotkin, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
Definition of persecutes
Verb
  • As Fortune’s family grieves, the local community is demanding answers, with some pointing to the state’s history of racial injustice and violence.
    — Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 10 Aug. 2026
  • On his death bed, de Boeldieu accepts the fortunes of war as Von Ruffenstein grieves.
    — Thomas Doherty, HollywoodReporter, 18 July 2026
Definition of grieves
Verb
  • Too often, this means taxpayer dollars are fueling the very gun violence that plagues neighborhoods and communities nationwide.
    — Kris Brown, Chicago Tribune, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Odd moment plagues fourth quarter As the Knicks held on to their fairly sizable lead, a fan ran onto the court, tried to take a selfie with Wembanyama but was quickly apprehended by security.
    — Jacob Lev, CNN Money, 4 June 2026
Definition of plagues
Verb
  • As local law enforcement mourns McKnight, his young family is left reeling.
    — Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 5 Aug. 2026
  • As Kelly mourns the loss of her dad, TMZ also reported that DJ and keyboardist Wilson was tossed from Slipknot after a 28-year run with the group.
    — Leigh Blickley, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of mourns
Verb
  • That means protections for those who have been vaccinated will weaken and wane as the disease afflicts those who haven’t, threatening public health as a whole.
    — New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Advertisement Mission hijacking in the nonprofit space A similar overcrowding afflicts the pro-democracy space today.
    — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 28 June 2026
Definition of afflicts
Verb
  • Inevitably the streak ends and everyone sighs, reflects and returns to work.
    — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2026
  • Gosha sighs, at the prospect of having to raise an amount that, over in the States, would be less than 50 bucks.
    — Damon Wise, Deadline, 11 July 2026
Definition of sighs
Verb
  • After Max tortures them in a mock-trial confrontation in their living room, Tom eventually tackles Max into the backyard pool.
    — Benjamin VanHoose, PEOPLE, 31 July 2026
  • On his latest Hyperdub release, the Japanese producer born Takahide Higuchi sings more than on previous records but tortures his voice through a gauntlet of pitch-shifter effects.
    — Daniel Bromfield, Pitchfork, 27 July 2026
Definition of tortures
Verb
  • According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, symptoms of West Nile virus include fever, headache, body aches, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash.
    — Rashad Williams, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Common symptoms include fever, headaches, body aches, joint pain, rash, vomiting and diarrhea, according to the CDC.
    — Amethyst Martinez, USA Today, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of aches

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Cite this Entry

“Agonizes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/agonizes. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of agonizes for Spanish Speakers

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