excruciate

verb

ik-ˈskrü-shē-ˌāt How to pronounce excruciate (audio)
Definition of excruciatenext
as in to plague
to cause persistent suffering to she has long been excruciated by an undiagnosed pain in her knee

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 excruciate For example, a person with a hernia who infrequently experiences minor discomfort likely wouldn't be as much of a priority as someone with a hernia that causes excruciating pain every day. — Perry Vandell, azcentral, 25 Apr. 2020 Sometimes their grandchildren are excruciated and appalled by what’s meant to be lightly funny. — Deborah Treisman, The New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2020 Exposed, incapacitated, and in excruciating pain, laboring moms rely on other people—doctors, nurses, midwives, doulas, and especially their partners—for help and support. — Minhae Shim Roth, Glamour, 1 Apr. 2020 One poor woman is left in excruciating pain for 24 hours, and Meredith’s ex-boyfriend Andrew DeLuca (Giacomo Gianniotti) accuses the relative of a patient of being a human trafficker. — Ariana Romero, refinery29.com, 20 Mar. 2020 See All Example Sentences for excruciate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for excruciate
  1. plague
  2. persecute
  3. afflict
  4. torture
  5. torment
  6. besiege
Verb
  • Minnesota lawmakers with broad bipartisan support this year approved a new watchdog agency tasked with fighting fraud that's plagued social services programs in the state for years.
    — Caroline Cummings, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Previous administrations have been plagued by poor accountability on large-ticket projects, a problem the president’s critics say remains the case under Tinubu.
    — Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of plague
Verb
  • During this same time his father had vanished behind the Bamboo Curtain and was almost certainly persecuted, possibly even murdered, by the same Communists that Hoover claimed to be fighting.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Those governments provide assurances that people won’t be persecuted or tortured, federal attorneys said.
    — Lindsay Whitehurst, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of persecute
Verb
  • Calle 13 became famous not just for its edgy rap and urban music, but also for loudly calling out the economic and social inequalities that afflicted Puerto Rico.
    — Helena Alonso Paisley, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2026
  • The uncertainty that afflicts others about how to dress for one’s age, one’s job or even the weather doesn’t seem to unsettle this cohort.
    — The Learning Network, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of afflict
Verb
  • The latest season, currently being aired, depicts a fictional Chinese intelligence agency capturing and torturing some of the Japanese spies.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Shorter than his peers (with Diana the tallest), Absolute Superman is more reserved and less confident than them — but just as tortured.
    — Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of torture
Verb
  • The foul odors from the 639-acre Chiquita Canyon Landfill have tormented residents for years, leading to tens of thousands of complaints.
    — Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Don’t underestimate the value of a quarterback who can torment defenses with his legs - something not seen ‘round these parts during the Tua Tagovailoa era.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of torment
Verb
  • French cities have been shaken in recent weeks by vandalism and looting sparked by cost-of-living demonstrations, amid a broader crisis besieging the country’s lame-duck centrist government that has spiked French bond yields.
    — Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Mehra – director of 2016 pic Baar Baar Dekho and creator of Prime Video series Big Girls Don’t Cry – says that while Indian audiences are besieged by films and TV content right now, where Hunkkaar has cut through is in its subject matter.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of besiege

Browse Nearby Words

excreting
excruciate
excruciated
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Cite this Entry

“Excruciate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/excruciate. Accessed 31 Oct. 2026.

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