Which word describes something that is extremely painful?

The word that describes something that is extremely painful is "excruciating." This term is often used to convey intense physical or emotional suffering. It originates from the Latin word "excruciare," which means "to torment" or "to torture," effectively capturing the severity of the pain it describes. When someone refers to pain as excruciating, they imply that the level of discomfort is not just significant but almost unbearable, making it the most fitting term in this context.

While the other words have their own meanings, they do not align with the concept of extreme pain. "Exquisite" refers to something that is of rare beauty or delicate perfection, "exhaustive" indicates something that is thorough and all-encompassing, and "exciting" implies a sense of enthusiasm or thrill. None of these capture the essence of extreme discomfort like "excruciating" does.