especially agonizing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "especially agonizing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize the intensity of pain or distress in a particular situation. Example: "The wait for the results was especially agonizing, as I had invested so much time and effort into the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Sally's dilemma is especially agonizing.

The New York Times

The levees are owned and maintained by all sorts of towns, agencies, even individual farmers, making the work in Iowa, Illinois and Missouri last week of gaming the flood — calculating where water levels would exceed the capacity of the protective walls — especially agonizing.

The New York Times

With benzos, the brain has more difficulty reregulating, and withdrawal is especially agonizing.

Huffington Post

For Shira, this is an especially agonizing question because it forces her to weigh the claims of family loyalty, religious duty and her own desires.

The New York Times

And is this all there is?" These questions are especially agonizing for mid-career professionals who may be searching for fulfillment while juggling demands at home.

Harvard Business Review

And is this all there is?" These questions are especially agonizing for mid-career professionals who may be searching for fulfillment while juggling demands at home and intense financial pressures to earn.

Harvard Business Review

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Parishioners here have especially agonized over a decision because both priests are from the St .John Valley, an isolated stretch of potato farms and paper mills where people carry centuries-old French names and salt their speech with French.

The New York Times

Those parts of the film, especially as narrated by Mr. Stern with sensitive, painful, articulate recall, were agonizing to watch, and can never be watched too often to remind us of what can happen when human brutality is unrestrained.

Huffington Post

I especially liked when she agonized: "Ooh, that's hard, isn't it?""Yes, it is," I answered her aloud with furrowed brows and knotted throat.

Los Angeles Times

But the decision to hold your tongue — especially regarding the occupational choices of your 18-year-old son — must have been agonizing.

Los Angeles Times

And agonizing.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "especially agonizing" to emphasize the extreme distress or suffering caused by a particular situation, distinguishing it from generally unpleasant experiences.

Common error

Avoid using "especially agonizing" in contexts that only involve minor inconvenience or discomfort. Reserve it for situations that genuinely evoke intense suffering.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "especially agonizing" functions as an intensifier followed by an adjective. According to Ludwig AI, it is used to describe something that causes a high degree of mental or physical suffering, making it exceptionally painful or distressing.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "especially agonizing" is a grammatically correct and usable expression, according to Ludwig AI. It's employed to emphasize the intensity of pain or distress in particular situations. While not overly frequent, its use is appropriate across different contexts, particularly in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business domains. When using this phrase, consider alternatives like "particularly distressing" or "exceptionally painful" to add variety to your writing. However, be cautious not to overuse it in situations that don't warrant such strong emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

particularly distressing

Replaces "agonizing" with "distressing", focusing on the emotional upset caused by a situation.

exceptionally painful

Substitutes "agonizing" with "painful", emphasizing the intensity of the physical or emotional pain.

intensely tormenting

Replaces "agonizing" with "tormenting", suggesting a prolonged and severe suffering.

unusually excruciating

Emphasizes the extreme degree of pain or unpleasantness associated with something.

singularly harrowing

Uses "harrowing" to describe a deeply distressing or traumatic experience.

remarkably unbearable

Highlights the inability to tolerate a situation due to its severity.

terribly distressing

Similar to "particularly distressing" but with a stronger emphasis on the severity of the distress.

acutely painful

Focuses on the sharp and intense nature of the pain, whether physical or emotional.

profoundly upsetting

Emphasizes the deep emotional disturbance caused by a situation.

uncommonly trying

Highlights the difficulty and strain caused by a situation, making it particularly challenging.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "especially agonizing" in a sentence?

The phrase "especially agonizing" is best used to emphasize the intensity of pain, suffering, or distress beyond the norm. For instance, "The wait for news was "particularly agonizing" because so much was at stake".

What are some alternatives to "especially agonizing"?

Depending on the specific context, you could use alternatives like "particularly distressing", "exceptionally painful", or "intensely tormenting".

Is there a difference between "especially agonizing" and "particularly agonizing"?

While both phrases are similar, "especially agonizing" emphasizes a specific instance or aspect that makes the situation intensely distressing, while "particularly agonizing" is a slightly more general descriptor.

When is it inappropriate to use the phrase "especially agonizing"?

It's best to avoid using "especially agonizing" in situations that are only mildly inconvenient or uncomfortable. It is more appropriate for describing experiences of significant emotional or physical suffering, and in cases of severe or extreme distress.