agonize

Etymology

From French agoniser, from Late Latin agonizare, from Ancient Greek ἀγωνίζομαι (agōnízomai, “to fight, contend”). See agony.

verb

1. (intransitive) To writhe with agony; to suffer violent anguish.
2. (intransitive) To struggle; to wrestle; to strive desperately, whether mentally or physically.
3. (transitive) To cause agony or anguish in someone.
   That dreadful bill […] was one of the chief torments of her life. At all hours of the night or day it was waiting just round the corner of her consciousness, ready to spring upon her and agonise her […] 1935, George Orwell, A Clergyman’s Daughter, page 8