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

And in 2021, in the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic, a whopping 85% failed to beat the market. —Terry Savage, Chicago Tribune, 25 Apr. 2026

That distinction fell to the Phillies who went into the weekend in the throes of a 10-game losing streak. —Bill Madden, Hartford Courant, 25 Apr. 2026

But Ashley and Austin, bless their hearts, would live in the throes of a careless spring, with mismatched furniture and super casual pastel curtains. —Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 20 Apr. 2026

In this telling, Richards, deep in the throes of heroin addiction, somehow managed to come up with one indelible riff after another built around his signature open G tuning — taught to him by Ry Cooder — leading the band to create one of the best albums in rock history. —Marc Ballon, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 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
• beaux
• blow
• boe
• 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