To agonize is to suffer extreme worry or mental pain, often over a difficult decision. It suggests long, intense emotional struggle.
From Greek *agōn* meaning “contest, struggle,” via Late Latin and French. It originally referred to physical struggle, like in athletic contests, and later shifted to emotional and mental struggles.
When you agonize over a choice, your mind is basically in a wrestling match with itself. The word comes from the same root as “agony,” so it’s not just light worry—it’s full-on inner combat.
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