1
as in nightmare
a situation or state that causes great suffering and unhappiness
waiting all those hours to hear if he'd survived the plane crash was pure agony
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in distress
a state of great suffering of body or mind
the agony of never knowing what happened to her son
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in explosion
a sudden intense expression of strong feeling
the announcement that the war was over unleashed a mass agony of joy
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of agony
Or maybe the ambivalence is really about art, the agony and bliss of being chained to the drawing board.
—
Charlie Tyson, New Yorker, 4 June 2025
Listen to this article 3 min Former NASCAR driver Danica Patrick shared the agony of her relationship and breakup with NFL star Aaron Rodgers, during an appearance on the Sage Steele Show.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 24 May 2025
But playing with an already-strained right calf, the Oshkosh, Wis., native stepped awkwardly towards the basket and crumbled to the court in agony when his leg appeared to pop.
—Sean Neumann, People.com, 24 June 2025
Finding alternatives that would end this agony would be one of American science’s most important achievements.
—Rachel Fobar, Vox, 14 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for agony
Charlie Tyson, New Yorker, 4 June 2025
Listen to this article 3 min Former NASCAR driver Danica Patrick shared the agony of her relationship and breakup with NFL star Aaron Rodgers, during an appearance on the Sage Steele Show.
—Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 24 May 2025
But playing with an already-strained right calf, the Oshkosh, Wis., native stepped awkwardly towards the basket and crumbled to the court in agony when his leg appeared to pop.
—Sean Neumann, People.com, 24 June 2025
Finding alternatives that would end this agony would be one of American science’s most important achievements.
—Rachel Fobar, Vox, 14 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for agony
Recent Examples of Synonyms for agony
Noun
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For centuries, folklore and popular wisdom have linked poor eating habits and indigestion to nightmares and restless sleep.—
Jeffrey Kluger,
Time,
1 July 2025
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None of this is meant to prompt nightmares of seventh grade civics class, raise doubts about one’s ability to pass a citizenship test, or question the arrangements for Friday’s barbeque.—
Michael Peregrine,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
Noun
-
Buildings continue to fall into economic distress because of government’s housing policies.—
Alva Badillo,
New York Daily News,
29 June 2025
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In line with these ideas, researchers published findings in 2023 that showed that meditation increased people’s concern for the suffering of others—and that, by comparison, people without this practice were more oriented to their own distress.—
Mariah G. Schug,
Scientific American,
27 June 2025
Noun
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The Yankees’ double-digit explosion on a rainy night provided plenty of breathing room for a bullpen that has been taxed and decimated by injuries.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
9 July 2025
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These new requirements, including this relatively tight deadline, could trigger an explosion of litigation across the state as condo associations begin to reassess governing documents, assessment structures, and recorded declarations, Pardo said.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 July 2025
Noun
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Fortune said Thursday that the Obama administration gave Haitians temporary protective status after an earthquake devastated Haiti, multiplying the island’s many miseries.—
Mark Pazniokas,
Hartford Courant,
3 July 2025
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The season ends with so many of the characters on the verge of a path to proper fulfillment; why prolong their misery?—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
26 June 2025
Noun
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To date, Operation UNITED has resulted in 33 positive identifications of people whose disappearance had left family members in anguish.—
Michael Kaplan,
CBS News,
16 June 2025
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Even so, the movie’s forceful visual shocks (executed mostly with practical effects) are easier to bear than its restlessly mounting anguish.—
Jeannette Catsoulis,
New York Times,
29 May 2025
Noun
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The Venetian police’s hybrids, recently aquired, are by Huracan Marine, designed to run on diesel when the cops need bursts of speed, and on electricity when slow cruising is required.—
Guy Martin,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
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April 2025 The Star: The cards suggest April will bring a refreshing burst of hope and clarity for you, Aries, as The Star invites you to reconnect with your dreams and aspirations.—
Meghan Rose,
Glamour,
1 July 2025
Noun
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Seeing how she was broken down and dehumanized through torture and isolation, definitely reflected the lengths humans will go to in order to survive.—
Lynette Rice,
Deadline,
10 July 2025
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Colleagues and former patients' families expressed concern for Soliman's safety if deported back to Egypt, citing fears of persecution and torture.—
Patricia Gallagher Newberry,
The Enquirer,
9 July 2025
Noun
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Opioid pain relievers, such as oxycodone or morphine, can also disrupt the body’s ability to manage heat, triggering perspiration.—
Lauryn Higgins,
Time,
7 July 2025
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Six months ago, two weeks before my planned starting date, a mysterious pain in my side sent me to see Doc Morris for a checkup that led to a surprise double surgery to remove both a dodgy gallbladder and a carrot-sized tumor from my lower intestines, the first serious medical crisis of my life.—
James Dodson
July 7,
Literary Hub,
7 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Agony.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/agony. Accessed 17 Jul. 2025.
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