What does "agonize" mean?
To writhe with agony; to suffer violent anguish.
Agonize
/ˈæɡ.ɪ.naɪz/ verb
verb ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: To writhe with agony; to suffer violent anguish.
- Grammar: agonize is listed as verb.
- Nearest alternatives: ache, afflict, agonise, agonize over.
- Useful contrasts: solacing, assuage, calm.
- Usage evidence: You just messed up once. You don't need to agonize over it.
How to use "agonize"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "agonize" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "agonize" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "agonize" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "agonize" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "agonize" is acting as verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "ache" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "agonize", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Verb
- 1 To writhe with agony; to suffer violent anguish. intransitive
"His Touch, if tremblingly alive all o’er, / To smart, and agonize at ev’ry pore?"
- 2 suffer agony or anguish wordnet
- 3 To struggle; to wrestle; to strive desperately, whether mentally or physically. intransitive
"So I took a last stare round, agonizing to see if there was any way of escape; but the stone walls and roof were solid enough to crush me, and the stack of casks too closely packed to hide more than a rat."
- 4 cause to agonize wordnet
- 5 To cause agony or anguish in someone. transitive
"That dreadful bill […] was one of the chief torments of her life. At all hours of the night or day it was waiting just round the corner of her consciousness, ready to spring upon her and agonise her […]"
Show 1 more definition
- 6 To act as an agonist upon; to combine with a receptor on a cell to produce a physiological reaction. transitive
Example
"You just messed up once. You don't need to agonize over it."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "agonize"?
Common synonyms include: ache, afflict, agonise, agonize over, ail, anguish.
How do you use "agonize" in a sentence?
You just messed up once. You don't need to agonize over it.
How do you pronounce "agonize"?
Pronounced /ˈæɡ.ɪ.naɪz/.
Etymology
From French agoniser, from Late Latin agonizare, from Ancient Greek ἀγωνίζομαι (agōnízomai, “to fight, contend”). See agony.