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.
Both have started games for the Astros this season, and McCullers, specifically, is a veteran who has pitched in the throes of a playoff race. Chandler Rome, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2025 Both hindsight and foresight is 20/20 in these scenarios, but recognizing your affective arousal while caught within its throes can be decidedly tricky. Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025 Bobby's death came in the middle of a major contagion crisis that pulled the 118 fire department into fatal throes. Mekishana Pierre, EW.com, 22 Aug. 2025 Mette Degn-Christensen, founder of fair organizer Downtown Design, told WWD earlier this year that the whole region is in the throes a transformational chapter. Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 22 Aug. 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 10 Sep. 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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