Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense agonizes, present participle agonizing, past tense, past participle agonizedregional note: in BRIT, also use agonise
verb
If you agonizeover something, you feel very anxious about it and spend a long time thinking about it.
Perhaps he was agonizing over the moral issues involved. [V + over/about]
She only made the decision to apply for training after years of agonizing. [VERB-ing]
[Also VERB]
Synonyms: suffer, labour, worry, struggle More Synonyms of agonize
agonize in British English
or agonise (ˈæɡəˌnaɪz)
verb
1.
to suffer or cause to suffer agony
2. (intransitive)
to make a desperate effort; struggle; strive
Derived forms
agonizingly (ˈagoˌnizingly) or agonisingly (ˈagoˌnisingly)
adverb
Word origin
C16: via Medieval Latin from Greek agōnizesthai to contend for a prize, from agōnagon
agonize in American English
(ˈægəˌnaɪz)
verb intransitiveWord forms: ˈagoˌnized or ˈagoˌnizing
1.
to make convulsive efforts; struggle
2.
to be in agony or great pain; feel anguish
verb transitive
3.
to cause great pain to; torture
Derived forms
agonizing (ˈagoˌnizing)
adjective
agonizingly (ˈagoˌnizingly)
adverb
Word origin
LL agonizare < Gr agōnizesthai, to contend for a prize < agōn, agon
Examples of 'agonize' in a sentence
agonize
Nick, he used to agonize for two days before getting up the nerve to call you on the phone and invite you over for dinner.
James Grippando A KING'S RANSOM (2001)
In other languages
agonize
British English: agonize VERB
If you agonize over something, you feel very anxious about it and spend a long time thinking about it.
Perhaps he was agonizing over the moral issues involved.
American English: agonize
Brazilian Portuguese: remoer
Chinese: 伤脑筋
European Spanish: inquietarse
French: se tourmenter
German: sich quälen
Italian: angosciarsi
Japanese: 悩む
Korean: 괴로워하다
European Portuguese: remoer
Latin American Spanish: inquietarse
(verb)
Definition
to worry greatly
I was agonizing over the moral issues involved.
Synonyms
suffer
labour
For years he laboured to build a religious community.
worry
I worry about my daughter constantly.
struggle
They had to struggle against all kinds of adversity.
strain
Several thousand supporters strained to catch a glimpse of the new president.
strive
He strives hard to keep himself very fit.
writhe
be distressed
be in agony
go through the mill
be in anguish
Additional synonyms
in the sense of labour
Definition
to work hard (for something)
For years he laboured to build a religious community.
Synonyms
struggle,
work,
strain,
work hard,
strive,
go for it (informal),
grapple,
toil,
make an effort,
make every effort,
do your best,
exert yourself,
work like a Trojan
in the sense of strain
Definition
to make an intense effort
Several thousand supporters strained to catch a glimpse of the new president.