Agonize

/ˈæɡ.ɪ.naɪz/ · verb

Meaning

(intransitive) To writhe with agony; to suffer violent anguish..

Definitions by Sense

1. (intransitive) To writhe with agony; to suffer violent anguish.
2. (intransitive) To struggle; to wrestle; to strive desperately, whether mentally or physically.
3. (transitive) To cause agony or anguish in someone.
4. (transitive, biochemistry, pharmacology) To act as an agonist upon; to combine with a receptor on a cell to produce a physiological reaction.

Example Sentences

His Touch, if tremblingly alive all o’er, / To smart, and agonize at ev’ry pore?

So I took a last stare round, agonizing to see if there was any way of escape; but the stone walls and roof were solid enough to crush me, and the stack of casks too closely packed to hide more than a rat.

That dreadful bill […] was one of the chief torments of her life. At all hours of the night or day it was waiting just round the corner of her consciousness, ready to spring upon her and agonise her […]

Synonyms for agonize

Antonyms for agonize

Related Words

Word Forms

• agonizes
• agonizing
• agonized
• agonise

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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