1
as in to persecute
to cause persistent suffering to
got into more trouble, further agonizing her poor mother
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to grieve
to feel deep sadness or mental pain
agonized for days over whether she'd done the right thing
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Recent Examples of agonize
Phillips said the experience of having his work changed, facing hostility from his supervisors and agonizing about whether and how to alert authorities was traumatic.
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Sharon Lerner, ProPublica, 18 Sep. 2024
But even as Hope’s situation improved, Kotb agonized over the demands on her time.
—Charlotte Triggs, People.com, 9 Oct. 2024
Other niche fragrance companies were being bought up by conglomerates—Estée Lauder had bought Le Labo in 2014, and Frédéric Malle the following year—but Kurkdjian agonized for two years before selling.
—Rachel Syme, The New Yorker, 16 Sep. 2024
Since at least 2022, Haiti’s neighbors have agonized openly over the spread of insurgent armed groups in the Caribbean nation.
—Caitlin Stephen Hu, CNN, 10 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for agonize 
Sharon Lerner, ProPublica, 18 Sep. 2024
But even as Hope’s situation improved, Kotb agonized over the demands on her time.
—Charlotte Triggs, People.com, 9 Oct. 2024
Other niche fragrance companies were being bought up by conglomerates—Estée Lauder had bought Le Labo in 2014, and Frédéric Malle the following year—but Kurkdjian agonized for two years before selling.
—Rachel Syme, The New Yorker, 16 Sep. 2024
Since at least 2022, Haiti’s neighbors have agonized openly over the spread of insurgent armed groups in the Caribbean nation.
—Caitlin Stephen Hu, CNN, 10 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for agonize
Recent Examples of Synonyms for agonize
Verb
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Between the lines: Asylum seekers can ask for protection in the U.S. if they have been persecuted or fear persecution because of their race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.Russell Contreras, Axios, 11 Dec. 2024
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The director, who works closely with producer sister Anita Juka, says her new work is inspired by a late close family member who was persecuted for his homosexuality throughout his life.Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 3 Dec. 2024
Verb
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At the time of the crash, Huger was grieving deeply, with Mother’s Day approaching and the grief still raw.Shelby Stewart, Essence, 19 Dec. 2024
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The grieving mother keeps her daughter’s memory alive by speaking about her in the present tense.Rachel McRady, People.com, 18 Dec. 2024
Verb
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John Hancock Tower Boston’s John Hancock Tower was plagued by controversy from the very beginning.Elizabeth Stamp, Architectural Digest, 25 Dec. 2024
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Some of the stream's elements worked, but it was still plagued by technical mishaps.Kaycee Sloan, The Enquirer, 24 Dec. 2024
Verb
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William Sadler is mourning the death of his wife, Marni Joan Bakst.Ingrid Vasquez, People.com, 21 Dec. 2024
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Abrams is mourning the end of Taylor Swift's Eras Tour How to watch 'SNL' on Dec. 21?Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY, 21 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The gun violence epidemic has afflicted public and private schools alike in urban, suburban, and rural communities.Brad Brooks and Joseph Ax, The Christian Science Monitor, 17 Dec. 2024
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Doctors have raised alarms as young workers have been afflicted with silicosis, a deadly illness caused by inhaling particles of crystalline silica.Emily Alpert Reyes, Los Angeles Times, 4 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The imagery of The Pink Opaque’s Midnight Realm is frightening, but the potent themes and aching nostalgia are what will keep you up at night.Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2024
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Illustration by María Jesús Contreras The Secret History of Risotto The dish is governed by a set of laws that are rooted in tradition, rich in common sense, and aching to be broken or bent.Emma Allen, The New Yorker, 16 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Sam's memory—and her Charly persona—returns with a vengeance after she's tortured by a former target named Daedalus (David Morse).Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 24 Dec. 2024
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This past January, 24-year-old Brandon Yates was tortured to death by a cellmate.Kelly Davis, The Mercury News, 23 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The teen then poses for the camera with her hip jutted out to the side to show off her low-waist jeans as Lakshmi sighs in defeat.Hedy Phillips, People.com, 16 Dec. 2024
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By the time guests sigh and lean back, the woods outside the windows are black.Blair Braverman, Outside Online, 2 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near agonize
Cite this Entry
“Agonize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/agonize. Accessed 31 Dec. 2024.
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