agonize

This way, we wouldn’t have to agonize over every ride and could even hop aboard to cross the Grand Canal without having to walk to the nearest bridge.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 2, 2026

Rather than agonize over how to restore the landscape to some former, unobtainable baseline of “natural,” officials unanimously agreed that this bold re-imagining of the coast was the best way forward among no perfect options.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2025

Refusing even a hint of introspection, she added: “We don’t agonize over what happened. We organize about what comes next.”

From Slate ● Nov. 15, 2024

When they wed, their fans swoon; when stars divorce, people agonize over what went wrong.

From Salon ● Jan. 5, 2024

Ewan pretended to agonize over this tempting offer.

From "Black Swan Green" by David Mitchell

In 1415, on the eve of challenging France at the Battle of Agincourt, he agonizes about the moral burdens of kingship.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 9, 2026

Miyazaki agonizes over the character of the Great Uncle who has built the fantastical world of the tower in “The Boy and The Heron.”

From Salon ● Dec. 24, 2024

She agonizes over the loss of her relationship with Mimi, perhaps the love of her life.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 13, 2024

In another, a girl agonizes while her 10-year-old sister buys a maroon lifeguard hoodie.

From New York Times ● Jul. 11, 2023

While he agonizes over song choice, I watch the K-pop videos playing on the television.

From "The Sun Is Also a Star" by Nicola Yoon

Faisuris Alvarez, who runs a beachside fish stand, agonized aloud over these questions without answers.

From Barron's ● Jul. 11, 2026

What if the destruction of your planet left you with a permanent case of agonized alienation, and you became a weird, antisocial loner who hung out in bars drinking alone?

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 25, 2026

Then the singers froze in place, the lighting changed, and the screaming orchestra and Ms. Loera’s projections of Blanche’s agonized face told the rest.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 15, 2026

All week I’d agonized about what movie would be my emotionally laden farewell salute.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 30, 2026

Mrs. Clarke heaved such agonized sighs, she nearly blew out the flame.

From "The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: Book I: The Mysterious Howling" by Maryrose Wood

Among them are white male entitlement versus the crushing demands of Black exceptionalism; the complicated bond linking fathers to sons; and the agonizing bravery required of mothers raising boys the world is conditioned to ostracize.

From Salon ● Oct. 5, 2026

Collins stood outside for several agonizing minutes, hearing their muffled voices.

From Slate ● Sep. 17, 2026

Inside, under flickering lights, a group of reluctant strangers is coaxed into acting out, in a converted gymnasium, a wild tale promising redemption from agonizing tragedy.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 5, 2026

Eisenhower’s agonizing responsibilities required him to make many critical decisions: Launch D-Day on June 6, 1944?

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026

After an agonizing interval, Woolf cantered Seabiscuit back to the top of the homestretch.

From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand