throe

noun

ˈthrō 

1

: pang, spasm

death throes

throes of childbirth

2

throes plural : a hard or painful struggle

… the throes of revolutionary social change …

—M. D. Geismar

Synonyms of throe

• ache
• pang
• tingle
• pain
• sting

Examples of throe in a Sentence

collapsed in the throes of agony

that third-world country is caught up in the throes of a democratic revolution

Recent Examples on the Web

Rowdy children represent yet another challenge for restaurants like his that have struggled through the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic and, more recently, skyrocketing prices for beef, cooking oil and other goods, Xue said. — Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026

Stone and Clinton were both in throes of drug addictions and had a falling out before the album could be completed. — Al Shipley, SPIN, 7 July 2026

As Droga sees it, the advertising industry is very much in the throes of a profound technological shift. — Max Tani, semafor.com, 22 June 2026

While the Knicks are now the toast of the town for the first time since 1973, the other sports teams that call the metropolitan area home are each in the throes of a long championship drought. — Jeff Capellini, CBS News, 18 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English thrawe, throwe, from Old English thrawu, thrēa threat, pang; akin to Old High German drawa threat

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for throe

• beau
• beaut
• beaux
• blow
• bro
• coe
• crow
• doe
• doh
• dough
• eau
• eaux

Kids Definition

throe

noun

ˈthrō 

1

: pang

death throes

throes of childbirth

2

plural : a hard or painful struggle

a state in the throes of revolution

Medical Definition

throe

noun

ˈthrō 

: pang, spasm

—usually used in plural

death throes

throes of childbirth