agony

play

noun ag·o·ny \ˈa-gə-nē\

Simple Definition of agony

: extreme mental or physical pain

Source: Merriam-Webster's Learner's Dictionary

Full Definition of agony

plural

agonies

1 a : intense pain of mind or body : anguish, torture b : the struggle that precedes death
2 : a violent struggle or contest
3 : a strong sudden display (as of joy or delight) : outburst

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Examples of agony in a sentence

She was in terrible agony after breaking her leg.
The medicine relieves the agony of muscle cramps very quickly.
It was agony to watch him suffer like that.

Did You Know?

In Ancient Greece, a public gathering was called agon. Since the Greeks placed a high value on sports and athletic competition, there were almost always athletic events at gatherings on festival days. The struggle to win the prize in such contests came to be called agonia. This term came also to be used for any difficult physical struggle and then for the pain that went with it—physical or mental. Our English word agony, meaning “intense pain of mind or body,” thus comes from a word that meant a happy celebration.

Origin and Etymology of agony

Middle English agonie, from Late Latin agonia, from Greek agōnia struggle, anguish, from agōn gathering, contest for a prize, from agein to lead, celebrate — more at agent

First Known Use: 14th century

Synonym Discussion of agony

distress, suffering, misery, agony mean the state of being in great trouble. distress implies an external and usually temporary cause of great physical or mental strain and stress <the hurricane put everyone in great distress>. suffering implies conscious endurance of pain or distress <the suffering of famine victims>. misery stresses the unhappiness attending especially sickness, poverty, or loss <the homeless live with misery every day>. agony suggests pain too intense to be borne <in agony over the death of their child>.