throe

noun

1
: pang, spasm
death throes
throes of childbirth
2
throes plural : a hard or painful struggle
the throes of revolutionary social changeM. D. Geismar

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
With his third novel, Minor Black Figures, Taylor brings his characters—in this case a contemporary artist and a very lapsed seminarian—into the throes of the cutthroat New York art world. Literary Hub july 1, Literary Hub, 1 July 2025 Paramount is in the final throes of a merger with Skydance, which requires federal regulatory approval. Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 27 June 2025 Last night’s 5-1 win in Game 6 never had a chance of being close, a far cry from the early throes of this series which saw three overtime games. Chris Branch, New York Times, 18 June 2025 The film starred Hoffman as an advertising executive and Streep as his ex-wife who navigate the throes of divorce and its effects on their young son. Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for throe

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of throe was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Throe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/throe. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

throe

noun
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
: pang, spasm
usually used in plural
death throes
throes of childbirth

More from Merriam-Webster on throe

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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