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excruciating

ex·cru·ci·a·ting

UK, UK/ɪkˈskɹuːʃi.eɪtɪŋ/British, Southern, Standard, UK/ɪkˈskɹʉwʃɪjɛjtɪŋ/Midlands, Northern England, UK/ɪkˈskɹuːʃi.eɪtɪŋɡ/Scotland, UK/ɪkˈskɾʉʃi.etɪŋ/

adjective

What it means

  1. Causing great pain or anguish, agonizing

    Sagan faced an excruciating dilemma: Should he remain true to his naturalistic philosophy and reject the marrow graft as something acquired by immoral means? Or should he agree to undergo the medical treatment in hope of saving his life

    2011, Charles Colson, Nancy Pearcey, How Now Shall We Live?

    Synonyms: lacerating, poignant

  2. Exceedingly intense; extreme

    When he at last opened his eyes, he was conscious of nothing but an excruciating pain through his temples. He was vaguely aware of unfamiliar surroundings.

    1922, Agatha Christie, “Chapter 16”, in The Secret Adversary

In a sentence

Sagan faced an excruciating dilemma: Should he remain true to his naturalistic philosophy and reject the marrow graft as something acquired by immoral means? Or should he agree to undergo the medical treatment in hope of saving his life

2011, Charles Colson, Nancy Pearcey, How Now Shall We Live?

Where it comes from

  1. Latinexcruciō
  2. Englishexcruciating

Present participle of excruciate, from Latin excruciō, from ex- + cruciō (“to torment”).

Full entry for excruciating →

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