adj

excruciating

ihk-SKROO-shee-ay-tihng

Excruciating (adj) means extremely painful or unbearably intense. Example: “She described the pain in her back as excruciating.”

adj

Extremely painful or unbearably intense.

"She described the pain in her back as excruciating."

"It was an excruciating wait for the test results."

How to Use Excruciating

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSo painful or intense it's almost impossible to bear.

Common pairings

excruciating pain excruciating detail excruciatingly slow

more excruciating comparative, most excruciating superlative

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She described the pain in her back as _____.

From Latin excruciare, "to torment" — ex- plus cruciare ("to torture"), from crux ("cross").

Origin: Latin

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What does “excruciating” mean?

The word “excruciating” means extremely painful or unbearably intense. In plain terms, so painful or intense it's almost impossible to bear.

How do you pronounce “excruciating”?

“Excruciating” is pronounced ihk-SKROO-shee-ay-tihng (/ɪkˈskɹuːʃiːeɪtɪŋ/ in IPA).

How do you use “excruciating” in a sentence?

Here is “excruciating” used in a sentence: “She described the pain in her back as excruciating.”

What part of speech is “excruciating”?

“Excruciating” is an adjective.

Where does the word “excruciating” come from?

The word “excruciating” comes from Latin. From Latin excruciare, "to torment" — ex- plus cruciare ("to torture"), from crux ("cross").