agonizing

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

While Catholic kids have usually been led to assume that the baby Jesus arrived on the wings of doves, Mary’s labor is nothing short of agonizing.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

Fernanda, a Florida restaurant worker, made an agonizing decision after the father of her children was arrested and deported: She would send their toddler son and 4-year-old daughter to Guatemala to live with him.

From Salon • Mar. 24, 2026

Wood had been agonizing over what to say to convince the board to spare his life.

From Slate • Mar. 6, 2026

When Murphy’s desperate friends finally found him and dug him out after 18 agonizing minutes, he was blue and not breathing, according to witnesses.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 6, 2026

It took Nin a few agonizing seconds to look up, but when she did, her muddy eyes couldn’t seem to focus.

From "The Reader" by Traci Chee