Synonym Chooser

How does the noun agony differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of agony are distress, misery, and suffering. While all these words mean "the state of being in great trouble," agony suggests pain too intense to be borne.

in agony over the death of their child

Where would distress be a reasonable alternative to agony?

The words distress and agony are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, distress implies an external and usually temporary cause of great physical or mental strain and stress.

the hurricane put everyone in great distress

When is it sensible to use misery instead of agony?

The meanings of misery and agony largely overlap; however, misery stresses the unhappiness attending especially sickness, poverty, or loss.

the homeless live with misery every day

When is suffering a more appropriate choice than agony?

In some situations, the words suffering and agony are roughly equivalent. However, suffering implies conscious endurance of pain or distress.

the suffering of famine victims

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of agony The film’s plot concerns the joys of motherhood overshadowed by agony when lead character Nkechi discovers that her daughter, Kamsi, is bound to the cyclical existence of the Ọgbanje—a spirit child trapped in the maze of life, death, and rebirth. Jonel Juste, Miami Herald, 26 Aug. 2025 The camera alternates between a traditional perspective and Ray’s POV, switching between wide shots that center Ray and Bart’s struggle for dominance and a fuzzy, blurry perspective that aligns with Ray’s agony. Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 25 Aug. 2025 The final whistle sounded and the agony and the ecstasy of tournament soccer was laid bare for all to see. Joseph O'Sullivan, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2025 No one is spared the agony of the search or the disappointment of their find. Nicholas Pileggi, Curbed, 15 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for agony
Recent Examples of Synonyms for agony
Noun
  • Instead, the interview was a PR nightmare that forced Andrew to step back from his public royal duties.
    Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 5 Sep. 2025
  • At 6 feet and blessed with great athletic ability, Moore was a matchup nightmare.
    Doug Feinberg, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Eileen’s imminent arrival is made even more dramatic when a younger woman named Thea (Imogen Poots) turns up at Hedda’s door in a state of distress.
    Damon Wise, Deadline, 9 Sep. 2025
  • However, without Chinese demand, this abundant supply threatens to further depress prices and worsen farmers’ financial distress.
    Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 9 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The more massive stars can produce heavier elements such as carbon, oxygen and nitrogen, all the way up to iron, in a sequence of fusion reactions that end in a supernova explosion.
    Luke Keller, Space.com, 7 Sep. 2025
  • But two years ago, as the latest wave of artificial intelligence began reshaping education, Leskovec told Fortune he was rocked by the explosion of his field into the mainstream.
    Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 7 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Befriended by the aged proprietor of a now defunct Greek coast restaurant, the hen becomes an unwitting witness of human misery – greed, migrant trafficking, revenge upon revenge.
    John Hopewell, Variety, 6 Sep. 2025
  • Task begins by setting up the parallels between Tom and Robbie, two flawed men trying to keep their heads above the water of their own miseries, cutting back and forth between their routines to emphasize their similar ideologies and spontaneities.
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Haley Robson described the anguish caused by ever-metastasizing Epstein conspiracy theories and endless Epstein news cycles, and her hope that releasing the files could finally put the case to bed.
    Michelle Goldberg, Mercury News, 6 Sep. 2025
  • Above all, there’s Rob, whose romantic getaway has turned into a slog of romantic anguish.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 4 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The family’s ring doorbell camera captured a man in all black who appeared to stand in the middle of their street raising a gun and three bursts of gunfire from different locations.
    Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
  • French rocket builder and ArianeGroup subsidiary MaiaSpace announced the completion of a monthslong test campaign that subjected several subscale prototypes of its propellant tanks to high-pressure burst tests, European Spaceflight reports.
    Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 5 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The Afghan, who asked to remain anonymous, has lived for months at a time without leaving his home, fearful of retribution, and torture, from the Taliban.
    Chris Boccia, ABC News, 5 Sep. 2025
  • The Turpins ultimately ended up entering a guilty plea to 14 felony counts, including charges of cruelty, torture and false imprisonment.
    Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 5 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • There is little reason to assume that negotiations won’t continue after the court’s decision, because there are still myriad ways that the government can inflict pain on the university.
    Jeannie Suk Gersen, New Yorker, 6 Sep. 2025
  • The goal of treatment is to care for the small wound, manage any pain, and avoid potential infection.
    Carrie Madormo, Health, 6 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Agony.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/agony. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

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