Agonizing means causing very great pain or anxiety. An agonizing wait, agonizing pain, an agonizing decision.
It covers physical pain and drawn-out uncertainty equally, and the second is the commoner in writing — an agonizing decision is one where every option costs something. Note the British spelling agonising; and that the Greek agon was a contest, so agony first meant a struggle.
1adjectiveagonizingCausing very great pain or anxiety.
“Waiting for the test results was agonizing.”
synonyms: excruciating, harrowing
agonizing is a quality of great pain.
Also accepted in games: agonising