Meaning
4 senses(intransitive)To writhe with agony; to suffer violent anguish.
quälen
suffer agony or anguish
(intransitive, literary)To struggle; to wrestle; to strive desperately, whether mentally or physically.
(transitive)To cause agony or anguish in someone.
cause to agonize
(transitive)To act as an agonist upon; to combine with a receptor on a cell to produce a physiological reaction.
Examples
25 sentencesWe agonized over what to wear.
We agonized over what to do.
ruМы задавались вопросом, что делать.
We agonized over this for months.
We agonized over that for weeks.
We agonized over the decision to do that.
Translations
3 languagesBy meaning 1
Origin
From French agoniser, from Late Latin agonizare, from Ancient Greek ἀγωνίζομαι (agōnízomaiFrom French agoniser, from Late Latin agonizare, from Ancient Greek ἀγωνίζομαι (agōnízomai, “to fight, contend”). See agony. By surface analysis, agon + -ize.
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Forms
agonizes, agonizing, agonized, agonizedSynonyms
25 synonymsAntonyms
3 antonymsWord family
7 related wordsLessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, regular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle