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
  • When reached by phone Tuesday morning, a woman who identified herself as Destiny’s mother declined to comment and requested privacy as the family grieves.
    — Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News, 25 Aug. 2026
  • My heart grieves for someone so special to this world and such a good friend to me.
    — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of grieves
Verb
  • Yet the monopolisation that plagues other top tiers, while not as stark in England, is creeping in.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
  • 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
Definition of plagues
Verb
  • The world mourns not only a musical light, but a singular style star.
    — Kelsey Stiegman, InStyle, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The stars have lost a bit of their shine as the world mourns Dolly Parton, who died Tuesday at the age of 80.
    — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of mourns
Verb
  • Researchers estimate that postpartum psychosis — which is more serious and less common than postpartum depression — afflicts 1 to 2 per 1,000 women after delivery.
    — Michael Casey, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026
  • 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
Definition of afflicts
Verb
  • Layered background sighs, a resonant lead vocal, autumnal acoustic guitar flickers, synths both eerie and trippy—James has all his tricks on tap.
    — Ryan Leas, Pitchfork, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Inevitably the streak ends and everyone sighs, reflects and returns to work.
    — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 23 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
  • About one out of five people infected with West Nile virus develop symptoms such as fever, headache, body aches, joint pain, vomiting, or rash.
    — Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026
  • When a sick child should stay home Hoying recommends keeping kids home when illness includes fever, body aches, vomiting or diarrhea.
    — Ashley Lynch, Charlotte Observer, 18 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 2 Sep. 2026.

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