excruciations
Severe suffering experiences
Excruciations are instances of intense suffering or torment.
The word shares its root with crucify—pain severe enough to evoke torture.
It appears in both physical and emotional contexts: the excruciations of kidney stones, the excruciations of unrequited love.
The singular excruciation is rarer but carries the same meaning.
Extreme physical or emotional pain
- tormentSevere prolonged suffering
- tortureDeliberate infliction of suffering
- painBodily or emotional distress
- sufferingSustained experience of distress
anguish · throes · spasms · convulsions · writhing · cramping · burning · searing
Crushing emotional pain
- griefIntense sorrow from loss
- despairTotal absence of hope
- anguishIntense mental suffering
- tormentSevere prolonged suffering
devastation · misery · woe · sorrow · heartache · desolation · turmoil · wretchedness
Deliberate infliction of suffering
- tormentSevere prolonged suffering
- persecutionSystematic mistreatment of groups
- crueltyDeliberate harm-causing disposition
- brutalitySavage, merciless behavior
punishment · martyrdom · flagellation · rack · inquisition · interrogation · ordeal · victimization
agony
Extreme physical or emotional pain
- tormentSevere prolonged suffering
- tortureDeliberate infliction of suffering
- painBodily or emotional distress
suffering · anguish · throes · spasms · convulsions · writhing · cramping · burning · searing · stabbing
heartbreak
Crushing emotional pain
torment · devastation · misery · woe · sorrow · heartache · desolation · turmoil · wretchedness · lamentation
torture
Deliberate infliction of suffering
- tormentSevere prolonged suffering
- persecutionSystematic mistreatment of groups
- crueltyDeliberate harm-causing disposition
brutality · punishment · martyrdom · flagellation · rack · inquisition · interrogation · ordeal · victimization · oppression
excruciationscomforts
Eases distress; pleasures
reliefs · painlessness · easements · alleviations · twinges