Purgatorial: meaning, definitions and examples

Used to describe something that feels like a long, difficult, and almost cleansing suffering. This term often has a spiritual or moral aspect linked to purification.

• Waiting for the results of the test felt purgatorial.
• The long, purgatorial journey through the desert tested their endurance.

Describes intense physical or mental pain that is extremely hard to bear. Often used in situations of acute distress or difficulty.

• The wait for the surgery outcome was agonizing.
• She went through agonizing pain after the accident.

This describes something that inflicts intense physical or mental suffering, often prolonged. It has a strong negative connotation associated with deliberate infliction of pain.

• The torturous wait for the hostage negotiations to conclude took a toll on their nerves.
• He described the workout as torturous, with no rest between exercises.

Extreme pain or discomfort, often used when talking about physical suffering but can also describe mental or emotional pain.

• The excruciating headache made it hard for him to concentrate.
• She felt excruciating embarrassment when she realized her mistake.