qualvoll
agonizing
Associated with great physical or emotional pain and suffering; extremely painful.
EXAMPLE
Nach dem Unfall hatte er qualvolle Schmerzen im Bein.
After the accident, he had agonizing pain in his leg.
qualvoll
agonizing
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Meanings
qualvoll
agonizing
Used figuratively for something that is extremely slow, difficult, or unpleasant and feels like torture.
EXAMPLE
Das Warten auf die Prüfungsergebnisse war eine qualvolle Geduldsprobe.
Waiting for the exam results was an agonizing test of patience.
Usage tips
Word formation
The adjective is made up of the noun 'die Qual' (agony, torture) and the suffix '-voll' (-ful). So it literally means 'full of agony'.
EXAMPLE
Die letzten Kilometer des Marathons waren ein qualvoller Kampf gegen die Erschöpfung.
The last few kilometers of the marathon were an agonizing battle against exhaustion.
Register and style
'Qualvoll' (agonizing) is a very strong and emotional word. It is used only for extreme suffering or very unpleasant situations, not for everyday pain or minor inconveniences.
EXAMPLE
Der Abschied von seiner Familie war ein qualvoller Moment für ihn.
Saying goodbye to his family was an agonizing moment for him.
Typical collocations
In its literal meaning, 'qualvoll' (agonizing) is often combined with nouns that describe suffering, pain, or the end of life. Common combinations are 'qualvolle Schmerzen' (agonizing pain), 'ein qualvoller Tod' (an agonizing death), or 'qualvolle Erinnerungen' (painful memories).
EXAMPLE
Er litt unter den qualvollen Folgen seiner schweren Krankheit.
He suffered from the agonizing effects of his serious illness.
Figurative meaning
In the figurative sense, 'qualvoll' (agonizing) describes processes that are extremely slow, difficult, or unpleasant. Typical examples are 'eine qualvolle Wartezeit' (an agonizing wait), 'eine qualvolle Stille' (an agonizing silence), or 'ein qualvoll langweiliger Film' (an agonizingly boring film).
EXAMPLE
Es war eine qualvolle Stille im Raum, nachdem er die schlechte Nachricht überbracht hatte.
There was an agonizing silence in the room after he delivered the bad news.
Compare with
qualvoll vs schmerzhaft
painful
Schmerzhaft and qualvoll can both describe something that causes physical pain. Schmerzhaft also works for a single or limited amount of pain, whereas qualvoll emphasizes very intense and all-encompassing suffering. Choose “schmerzhaft” for an unpleasant treatment and “qualvoll” when the situation is experienced as especially agonizing.
qualvoll
Die lange Behandlung war für den Patienten qualvoll und kaum auszuhalten.
The lengthy treatment was agonizing for the patient and almost unbearable.
schmerzhaft
Die kurze Behandlung war schmerzhaft, aber schnell vorbei.
The brief treatment was painful, but it was over quickly.
In real life
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