agonized

IPA/ˈæɡənaɪzd/
KK[ˈæɡənˌaɪzd]IPA/ˈæɡənaɪzd/

agonized — adjective

  • agonizedpositive
  • more agonizedcomparative
  • most agonizedsuperlative

1. feeling terrible physical pain or deep emotional distress, or showing that suffe

1.adjectiveC1
Definition

feeling terrible physical pain or deep emotional distress, or showing that suffering very clearly.

Example

Tanvi gave the doctor an agonized look as the cramps returned.

agonized + look

Hamza sounded agonized when he described the night of the fire.

predicative adjective after sound

Common collocations
  • agonized look
  • agonized cry
  • agonized voice
  • agonized face
  • agonized expression
Synonyms
  • pained

    milder and often used for a brief expression of hurt or sadness

  • distressed

    broader and can describe worry or upset without such intense pain

  • anguished

    more formal and usually focuses on deep emotional suffering

  • tormented

    stronger and often suggests pain that continues over time

Antonyms
  • calm

    not showing pain, panic, or distress

  • relieved

    showing that pain, worry, or pressure has eased

Grammar Patterns

an agonized look/cry/voice

feel agonized

be agonized by/about/over something

Usage Note

Often modifies look, face, voice, cry, or expression when pain or distress is easy to notice. It can also follow linking verbs such as feel, sound, and look when someone is suffering badly.

Common Mistakes

The wait for test results was agonized.
The wait for test results was agonizing.
agonized usually describes a person or expression that feels or shows pain, while agonizing describes something that causes that pain.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

Agonized describes pain or distress that is so strong it shows in someone's face, voice, or body. Pained is milder and often refers to a brief look of hurt, sympathy, or disappointment. Distressed is broader: a person can be distressed by worry or shock without seeming close to unbearable pain. Anguished is more formal and usually points to deep emotional suffering. Tormented is stronger and often suggests pain that keeps returning over time. Agonizing is different because it usually describes the thing that causes the suffering, not the person who feels it. You might hear an agonized cry after a burn, but call the long wait for test results agonizing.

pained ↗distressed ↗anguished ↗tormented ↗agonizing ↗

Etymology

GreekLatinFrenchEnglish

Agonized comes from the verb agonize, which was formed from agony. Agony entered English through French and Latin from Greek agonia, a word that first referred to a struggle or contest and later to severe mental or physical suffering. The -ed form developed as an adjective for a person or expression that shows this intense pain or distress.