excruciating

UK: /ɪkˈskruːʃieɪtɪŋ/

US: /ɪkˈskruʃiˌeɪtɪŋ/

US: (ik skro̅o̅′shē ā′ting)

From the verb excruciate: (⇒ conjugate)

excruciating is: ⓘ

v pres p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

ex•cru•ci•at•ing /ɪkˈskruʃiˌeɪtɪŋ/   adj. 

1. causing intense suffering;
   tormenting:
   excruciating pain.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

ex•cru•ci•at•ing  (ik skro̅o̅′shē ā′ting), adj. 

1. extremely painful;
   causing intense suffering;
   unbearably distressing;
   torturing:
   an excruciating noise; excruciating pain.
2. exceedingly elaborate or intense;
   extreme:
   done with excruciating care.

• excruciate + -ing² 1655–65

ex•cru′ci•at′ing•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 1. . unbearable, insufferable, unendurable, agonizing, racking.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

excruciating / ɪkˈskruːʃɪˌeɪtɪŋ/ adjective

1. unbearably painful; agonizing
2. intense; extreme: he took excruciating pains to do it well
3. irritating; trying
4. very bad: an excruciating pun

exˈcruciˌatingly adverb

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

ex•cru•ci•ate  (ik skro̅o̅′shē āt′), v.t., -at•ed, -at•ing. 

1. to inflict severe pain upon;
   torture:
   The headache excruciated him.
2. to cause mental anguish to;
   irritate greatly.

• Latin excruciātus, past participle of excruciāre to torment, torture, equivalent. to ex- ex-¹ + cruciāre to torment, crucify (derivative of crux cross); see ate¹
• 1560–70

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

excruciate / ɪkˈskruːʃɪˌeɪt/ verb (transitive)

1. to inflict mental suffering on; torment
2. to inflict physical pain on; torture

Etymology: 16th Century: from Latin excruciāre, from cruciāre to crucify, from crux cross

exˌcruciˈation noun