agonize
/ˈæɡənaɪz/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈæɡənaɪz/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈa-gə-ˌnīz/ (ame, mw)
agonize — verb
- agonizepresent simple I / you / we / they
- agonizeshe / she / it
- agonizedpast simple
- agonizing-ing form
1. to keep turning a difficult choice or problem over in your mind until the worry
to keep turning a difficult choice or problem over in your mind until the worry starts to feel painful.
Noa agonized over the job offer for three sleepless nights.
agonize over + noun phrase
Brandon agonized about whether to sell his father's old bike.
agonize about whether-clause
The committee agonized over two final designs before choosing one.
Yasmin sat in the kitchen, agonizing over what to tell her son.
- worry
broader and less intense; it does not always focus on one hard decision
- brood over
suggests dark, private thinking that often lasts a long time
- wrestle with
emphasizes mental struggle, often with less emotional pain
- deliberate
more formal and less emotional; often used for careful discussion
文法句型
agonize over a decision
agonize about whether to do something
agonize over what to say
用法筆記
This sense is usually followed by over or about, often with a decision, question, or choice. Distinguish from sense 2: here the pain comes from repeated worrying before a decision, not from physical suffering or grief itself.
常見錯誤
2. to be in extreme physical pain or deep emotional misery.
to be in extreme physical pain or deep emotional misery.
Rania lay awake, agonizing in pain after the spoiled fish.
agonize in pain
After the funeral, Stefan agonized for weeks with grief.
agonize with + emotion
The injured horse agonized beside the fence until the vet arrived.
Mateo listened helplessly as the trapped climber agonized through the night.
- recover
to get better after pain, illness, or distress
- find relief
to stop hurting or become easier to bear
文法句型
agonize in pain
agonize with grief
agonize through the night
用法筆記
Formal and stronger than ordinary suffer. The subject is the person or animal feeling the pain. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense describes actual suffering, not worry over a decision. Distinguish from sense 3: here the subject feels the pain instead of causing it.
常見錯誤
3. to make someone feel severe physical pain or emotional torment.
to make someone feel severe physical pain or emotional torment.
The infected tooth agonized Hiro every time he chewed on bread.
thing as subject: pain cause
Months without news from the missing hikers agonized the whole family.
situation as subject
The memory of the crash agonized Naoko long after her arm healed.
The tight cast agonized Mathieu whenever the swelling returned at night.
文法句型
something agonizes somebody
an illness agonizes somebody
a memory agonizes somebody
用法筆記
This sense is uncommon and formal. The subject is the thing or person causing the pain, such as an injury, memory, or cruel situation. Distinguish from sense 2: sense 2 names the sufferer as subject, while this sense names the cause.