excruciating

adjective

ex·​cru·​ci·​at·​ing ik-ˈskrü-shē-ˌā-tiŋ 

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 

adverb

Synonyms

• agonizing
• harrowing
• racking
• raging
• tormenting
• torturing
• torturous
• wrenching

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

Like the compulsive twisting of a pencil into a sharpener, Khatami tightens the narrative rope to excruciating effect with a series of ominous foreshadowings. —Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 25 Jan. 2025

Three-time Pro Bowl tight end Mark Andrews received the lion's share of the blame after the Baltimore Ravens' playoff run came to an abrupt and excruciating end. —Chantz Martin, Fox News, 22 Jan. 2025

Just minutes into a flight, a 52-year-old woman forced an emergency landing because of excruciating pain in her eye, German doctors said. —Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 21 Jan. 2025

The excruciating pain before Wekem’s stem cell transplant had made that impossible. —Jason Kane, NBC News, 18 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1599, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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