it's agonizing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it's agonizing" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation or experience that is extremely painful or distressing, either physically or emotionally. Example: "Waiting for the test results was agonizing; I could hardly focus on anything else."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

It's agonizing.

The New York Times

Bravery is to keep going even when it's agonizing.

Huffington Post

It's hard to tell if it's simply painful for Peter to be alive, or if it's agonizing for him to visit the crude intellectual plane on which most of us live.

Huffington Post

Perhaps the film would have been less devastating to watch — certainly, it's agonizing to see a devoted wife confront her husband's love for his mistress.

The New Yorker

There's an open letter by Syrian artists published today in Le Monde the filmmakers Hala Alabdalla and Ossama Mohammed, the actress Reem Ali, and the cartoonist Ali Ferzat are among its first fifty signatories titled "Deliver Syria So That It Regains the Right to Live and to Create!" It's agonizing; it should be widely read in its entirety.

The New Yorker

(He always does. It's agonizing).

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

It was agonizing to watch.

The New Yorker

It is agonizing for the mothers of the two girls not to know more.

The New York Times

They have been raised by her sister, Wendy Evil, who says it was agonizing to take the children to see their mother in prison.

The New York Times - Science

Paul O'Neill said it was agonizing to be slumping the way Williams was but added, "It seems like the whole team is in one right now".

The New York Times - Sports

It was "agonizing" to decide to cease production at a California plant this year, after G.M., its partner in the joint venture, decided to pull out.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it's agonizing" to describe situations causing intense emotional or physical pain, but consider stronger alternatives like "excruciating" or "unbearable" for heightened emphasis.

Common error

Avoid using "it's agonizing" in everyday situations where the level of distress is minimal. Reserve this phrase for truly significant or severe experiences to maintain its impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it's agonizing" functions as a descriptive expression, characterizing a situation or experience as extremely painful or distressing. As Ludwig AI underlines, it effectively conveys the intensity of suffering, whether physical or emotional.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Science

5%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it's agonizing" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe experiences or situations that are intensely painful or distressing. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and common usage, particularly in news and media. While versatile, consider the intensity of the phrase and choose alternatives like "it's excruciating" or "it's tormenting" for specific nuances. Avoid overuse in casual contexts to preserve its impact. This phrase frequently appears in news and media contexts, reflecting its role in conveying serious and distressing circumstances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it's excruciating

Replaces "agonizing" with a stronger term emphasizing intense pain.

it's tormenting

Emphasizes the mental and emotional suffering involved.

it's harrowing

Highlights the distressing and frightening nature of the experience.

it's unbearable

Focuses on the inability to endure the situation.

it's dreadful

Conveys a sense of intense unpleasantness and fear.

it's excruciatingly painful

Adds emphasis to the level of pain experienced.

it's deeply distressing

Highlights the emotional impact of the situation.

it's profoundly upsetting

Emphasizes the level of emotional disturbance.

it's a terrible ordeal

Frames the situation as a severe and prolonged hardship.

it's a living hell

Uses a hyperbolic expression to describe extreme suffering.

FAQs

What does "it's agonizing" mean?

It means something is extremely painful, difficult, or distressing, either physically or emotionally. It describes a situation that is very hard to bear.

How can I use "it's agonizing" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe waiting for news, dealing with loss, or enduring a painful experience. For example, "Waiting for the test results was agonizing." or "It was agonizing to watch the team lose.

What can I say instead of "it's agonizing"?

You can use alternatives like "it's excruciating", "it's tormenting", or "it's unbearable" depending on the context.

Is "it's agonizing" formal or informal?

It's generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though it is more commonly found in news and media reporting on distressing situations.