as in weeping
expressing or suggesting mourning one look at his agonized, tearful eyes and it was clear that something was terribly wrong
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in plagued
to cause persistent suffering to got into more trouble, further agonizing her poor mother
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2
as in grieved
to feel deep sadness or mental pain agonized for days over whether she'd done the right thing
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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 agonized
Edward Segarra, USA Today, 31 Oct. 2025 After the long commerical break that cohost Julianne Hough made an agonized Fishel and Pashkov wait through to receive their scores, they were relieved to earn a 29, from three 7s and Tonioli's 8. —Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Oct. 2025
Nathaniel Weixel, The Hill, 21 Nov. 2025 The Canadian musician had agonized over writing the song in the first place. —NPR, 6 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for agonized
Adjective
Instead, his agonized facial expressions, brought on by an overwhelming vampiric thirst, come across like a bad impersonation of a food allergy. —Edward Segarra, USA Today, 31 Oct. 2025 After the long commerical break that cohost Julianne Hough made an agonized Fishel and Pashkov wait through to receive their scores, they were relieved to earn a 29, from three 7s and Tonioli's 8. —Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Oct. 2025
Verb
Cassidy agonized about supporting Kennedy’s confirmation due to his record of anti-vaccine views, but ultimately cast the deciding vote for his nomination after receiving assurances about vaccine policy. —Nathaniel Weixel, The Hill, 21 Nov. 2025 The Canadian musician had agonized over writing the song in the first place. —NPR, 6 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for agonized
Recent Examples of Synonyms for agonized
Adjective
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And every day, across from them, outside the clinic, about to enter or just leaving, there were women hugging each other and weeping.— David Mamet, National Review, 11 Aug. 2022
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The show manages to stay on the brink — always laughing, never quite weeping — for its entire length.— Helen Shaw, Vulture, 8 Dec. 2021
Verb
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Opposition lawmakers are demanding Starmer resign, arguing his appointment of Mandelson despite warnings about reputational risks demonstrates poor judgment that has plagued his tenure since July 2024.— Jill Lawless, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
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There were promising signs of life throughout, though, and the Red Sox did enough to supersede the issues that have plagued them throughout their 9-13 start.— Gabrielle Starr, Hartford Courant, 20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The saga unfolded as Carla and Carlotta grieved an unrelated loss.— Jennifer Cannon, Vanity Fair, 7 Apr. 2026
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The whole country mourned her loss and grieved for her two young daughters, Ellie and Carrie, who were just 6 and 2 at the time.— Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 21 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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His face, always stationed somewhere halfway to hangdog, seems to gain 20 new creases carved deep into his skin, accentuating his mournful eyes and his excruciated, heartbroken smile.— Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 17 Apr. 2026
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Her music choices, mournful and dreamy, also add a sense of significance.— Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Alex isn’t persecuted for being trans.— Brittany Delay, Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2026
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Jews were not necessarily being persecuted in Hungary at that point.— Marcy Thompson, Scientific American, 16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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When the popular Italian restaurant Caffe Vialetto closed in 2025 after 26 years of feeding families and sharing milestones, diners across Miami mourned the loss of the Coral Gables icon, a stable oasis for quiet dinners and family celebrations in a wildly changing culinary landscape.— Connie Ogle April 9, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2026
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Family members mourned Tuesday in Beirut at the funeral of Pierre Mouawad and his wife, Flavia.— Chantal Da Silva, NBC news, 9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Based on the 1995 novel by Alice Hoffman, Practical Magic follows the witchy women of the Owens’ family, whose heartbroken ancestor cursed their bloodline so that any man who falls in love with an Owens woman dies a tragic death.— Glenn Garner, Deadline, 22 Apr. 2026
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Instead, Janai Norman — the warm, radiant presence who had become the heart of weekend Good Morning America — said goodbye through a tearful Instagram video on April 3 that left loyal viewers blindsided and heartbroken.— Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Washington’s version of McCall is disciplined but damaged, and possibly afflicted with something like obsessive-compulsive disorder.— Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
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These are important messages for a world afflicted by war and division.— Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 14 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Agonized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/thesaurus/agonized. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
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