agonizing

martyrdom

noun. suffering endured for sake of a cause

Word Origin & History

1580s, "to torture," from Middle French agoniser or directly from Medieval Latin agonizare, from Greek agonizesthai "to contend in the struggle" (see agony). Intransitive sense of "to suffer physical pain" is recorded from 1660s. That of "to worry intensely" is from 1853. Related: Agonized; agonizing.

Example Sentences for agonizing

Take a very common instance of this agonizing incompatibility.

The thirst of the snow fields is most agonizing, and can only be likened to the thirst of the desert.

But where was the mother during these fearful and agonizing moments!

Nan, agonizing in her suspense, cried out she must join him and go with him if he went.

The struggle was fearful and agonizing, but the victory triumphant.

The sound of the wailing voices in song came to her on the breeze, agonizing in its beauty.

Fighting his own agonizing weakness, he pulled himself upright.

He was seeing, seeing, seeing, and what he saw was agonizing.

He could not sleep, and seemed to pass the whole night in agonizing prayer.

And so, in agonizing resignation, she set herself the task of waiting—for what?

agonizing

intense

martyrdom

more painful

nagging

painful

piercing

poignant

sharp

agonizing

More words related to agonizing