agony

noun
ag·​o·​ny | \ ˈa-gə-nē How to pronounce agony (audio) \
plural agonies

Definition of agony

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

Synonyms & Antonyms for agony

Synonyms

Antonyms

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Choose the Right Synonym for 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

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.

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.
Recent Examples on the Web Even now, amid their agony, players and their families are often reluctant to wish football away from campuses or American culture. New York Times, 7 Aug. 2022 Adding to their agony, Yana’s father, Vasyl, who had been in the Ukrainian army since 2015, was killed May 11, fighting on the front line in the Donetsk region. Scott Peterson, The Christian Science Monitor, 22 June 2022 And Sunday, his agony extended further when his 14-foot downhill birdie putt on the 18th hole skipped just past the lip of the cup. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 19 June 2022 The families said that linking their relatives’ fate to the nuclear deal risks prolonging their agony. Stephen Kalin, WSJ, 12 May 2022 May God bring them comfort in this hour of their agony. J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 30 Apr. 2022 The warring bandmates' ability to channel their agony into pitch-perfect harmony proved a winning formula. Lanford Beard, PEOPLE.com, 2 Apr. 2022 Inspired by the buzz generated by the film version, My Policeman was released for the first time in the U.S. in August, drawing a whole new readership into its sweet agony. Michelle Ruiz, Vogue, 23 Dec. 2021 So recognizable that my agony—even my shock—dissolves into relief. Seija Rankin, EW.com, 14 Oct. 2021 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'agony.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of agony

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

History and Etymology for agony

Middle English agonie, borrowed from Anglo-French & Late Latin; Anglo-French agonie, borrowed from Late Latin agōnia, borrowed from Greek agōnía "contest, struggle, anguish," from agṓn "gathering, assembly at games, contest for a prize" (derivative of ágein "to lead, drive") + -ia -y entry 2 — more at agent

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Time Traveler for agony

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The first known use of agony was in the 14th century

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Dictionary Entries Near agony

agonothete

agony

agony aunt

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Statistics for agony

Last Updated

5 Oct 2022

Cite this Entry

“Agony.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/agony. Accessed 8 Oct. 2022.

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More Definitions for agony

agony

noun
ag·​o·​ny | \ ˈa-gə-nē How to pronounce agony (audio) \
plural agonies

Kids Definition of agony

: great physical pain or emotional distress

agony

noun
ag·​o·​ny | \ ˈag-ə-nē How to pronounce agony (audio) \
plural agonies

Medical Definition of agony

1 : intense pain of mind or body
2 : the struggle that precedes death

More from Merriam-Webster on agony

Nglish: Translation of agony for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of agony for Arabic Speakers

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