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
1
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 notesIn plain EnglishSo painful or intense it's almost impossible to bear.
Common pairings
excruciating pain
excruciating detail
excruciatingly slow
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more excruciating
- Superlative
- most excruciating
Fill the gap
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She described the pain in her back as _____.
Etymology
From Latin excruciare, "to torment" — ex- plus cruciare ("to torture"), from crux ("cross").
Related words
Rhymes for excruciating
See all rhymes for excruciating →Frequently asked questions
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").
