agonizing
Deeply distressing experience
Agonizing describes something that causes intense physical or mental suffering: an agonizing decision, agonizing pain.
The word often applies to difficult choices where every option hurts: After agonizing deliberation, she chose to end the relationship.
Something agonizing may also be unbearably slow or drawn out: The agonizing wait for test results lasted two weeks.
Causing intense emotional anguish
- wrenchingForceful turning or yanking
- gut-wrenchingCausing intense emotional anguish
- tormentSevere prolonged suffering
- anguishIntense mental suffering
grief · despair · sorrow · devastating · crushing · harrowing · unbearable · suffering
Causing extreme suffering
- throbbingRhythmic painful pulsing
- searingBrowning with intense heat
- piercingPenetrating or very sharp
- shootingDischarging a weapon
stabbing · unbearable · intense · acute · sharp · burning · gnawing · relentless
Forced choice between undesirables
- quandaryState of perplexity
- predicamentDifficult, unpleasant situation
- conundrumPerplexing problem or question
- impasseSituation without resolution
crossroads · choice · uncertainty · indecision · deliberation · hesitation · ambivalence · wrestling
Without apparent conclusion
- endlessWithout termination or boundary
- drawn-outExtended beyond normal duration
- protractedExtended beyond normal duration
- gruelingExtremely tiring and demanding
exhausting · relentless · tedious · slow · crawling · dragging · tortuous · wearing
heartbreaking
Causing intense emotional anguish
- wrenchingForceful turning or yanking
- gut-wrenchingCausing intense emotional anguish
- tormentSevere prolonged suffering
anguish · grief · despair · sorrow · devastating · crushing · harrowing · unbearable · suffering · distressing
excruciating
Causing extreme suffering
shooting · stabbing · unbearable · intense · acute · sharp · burning · gnawing · relentless · crippling
dilemma
Forced choice between undesirables
- quandaryState of perplexity
- predicamentDifficult, unpleasant situation
- conundrumPerplexing problem or question
impasse · crossroads · choice · uncertainty · indecision · deliberation · hesitation · ambivalence · wrestling · torn
interminable
Without apparent conclusion
- endlessWithout termination or boundary
- drawn-outExtended beyond normal duration
- protractedExtended beyond normal duration
grueling · exhausting · relentless · tedious · slow · crawling · dragging · tortuous · wearing · draining
agonizingpainless
Causing no discomfort
pain-free · comfortable · soothing · mild · gentle
agonizingbearable
Able to be endured
tolerable · endurable · manageable · survivable · sufferable
agonizingpleasurable
Causing positive feelings
delightful · blissful · gratifying · pleasing · sweet