Thesaurus

agony

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

noun

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Synonyms & Antonyms of agony

1 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 for agony

Words Related to agony

gall,
thorn

Near Antonyms for agony

Antonyms for agony

heaven,
paradise

2 a state of great suffering of body or mind

the agony of never knowing what happened to her son

Synonyms for agony

Words Related to agony

discomfort

emergency,
pinch

Near Antonyms for agony

peace,
security

well-being

3 a sudden intense expression of strong feeling

the announcement that the war was over unleashed a mass agony of joy

Synonyms for agony

Words Related to agony

Frequently Asked Questions About agony

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