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Excruciating: meaning, definitions and examples

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excruciating

 

[ɪkˈskruːʃiˌeɪtɪŋ ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Adjective

painful

Causing intense physical or mental suffering; agonizing. Causing great pain or anguish.

Synonyms

agonizing, painful, torturous, unbearable.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
excruciating

Often used to describe severe physical pain or an emotionally painful situation.

  • The surgery was excruciating
  • The wait for the test results was excruciating
agonizing

Typically used for situations involving intense physical or emotional suffering.

  • He faced an agonizing decision
  • The athlete experienced agonizing muscle cramps
torturous

Implies a situation that feels like torture, either physically or emotionally. Often has a negative connotation.

  • The hike was a torturous experience in the heat
  • The long meetings were torturous
painful

Generic term for any type of physical discomfort or emotional distress.

  • She had a painful headache
  • It was a painful breakup
unbearable

Used when a situation, pain, or emotion is too intense to be tolerated.

  • The heat was unbearable
  • The grief was unbearable for her

Examples of usage

  • The excruciating pain shot through his body.
  • The excruciating wait for the test results was unbearable.
  • The excruciating screams could be heard from miles away.
Context #2 | Adjective

extremely intense

Intensely painful or agonizing; extreme in degree or intensity.

Synonyms

acute, extreme, intense, severe.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
excruciating

Used to describe something extremely painful or unbearable, often physical pain.

  • The patient was in excruciating pain after the surgery
intense

Used to describe something that is very strong, often referring to emotions, activities, or sensations.

  • He felt an intense feeling of relief after solving the problem
extreme

Used to describe conditions or feelings that are at the highest degree, often pushing the limits of what is normal.

  • They faced extreme weather conditions during their climb
severe

Used to describe something that is very serious, harsh, or strong, can refer to both negative situations and medical conditions.

  • The region is experiencing severe drought this year
acute

Used to describe something sharp, intense, and severe in effect, often suddenly and to a high degree, not limited to pain.

  • She suddenly experienced an acute pain in her abdomen

Examples of usage

  • The excruciating heat of the desert was overwhelming.
  • The excruciating beauty of the sunset left us speechless.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

  • The word comes from the Latin 'excruciare', meaning 'to torment' or 'to crucify', indicating extreme pain.
  • In medieval times, the term was often used in the context of torture, emphasizing its connection to severe suffering.

Psychology

  • Experiencing excruciating pain can lead to psychological effects, such as anxiety or depression, due to the body's response to stress.
  • Chronic pain sufferers often report that their pain can feel excruciating, affecting their everyday emotional state and mental health.

Literature

  • In literature, characters often describe their emotional pain as excruciating to express deep suffering or heartbreak.
  • Writers commonly use the term to convey a vivid sense of struggle, making the reader feel empathy towards the character's experiences.

Medicine

  • Medically, excruciating pain can be a symptom of various conditions, indicating the need for urgent medical attention.
  • Patients in acute pain may use the word excruciating to describe their experience to healthcare professionals to communicate the severity.

Pop Culture

  • In movies and shows, characters often scream 'this is excruciating!' during intense situations to emphasize their physical or emotional turmoil.
  • Stand-up comedians sometimes play with the word to exaggerate minor inconveniences, adding humor to the concept of pain.

Translations

Translations of the word "excruciating" in other languages:

🇵🇹 excruciante

🇮🇳 अत्यधिक पीड़ादायक

🇩🇪 quälend

🇮🇩 sangat menyakitkan

🇺🇦 болісний

🇵🇱 straszny

🇯🇵 耐え難い

🇫🇷 atroce

🇪🇸 agonizante

🇹🇷 dayanılmaz

🇰🇷 극심한

🇸🇦 مؤلم للغاية

🇨🇿 mučivý

🇸🇰 mučivý

🇨🇳 难以忍受的

🇸🇮 mučen

🇮🇸 sársaukafullur

🇰🇿 өте ауыр

🇬🇪 ტანჯული

🇦🇿 çox ağrılı

🇲🇽 agonizante

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #20,628, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.