as in struggle
a forceful effort to reach a goal or objective
that third-world country is caught up in the throes of a democratic revolution
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Recent Examples of throes
Victor Lindelof came on in midfield during the final throes to shut the match down.
—
Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 26 Jan. 2026
But for many Burmese people, already living in the throes of war, the outcome of the election is unlikely to change much.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 23 Jan. 2026
Clancy allegedly strangled her children Cora, 5, Dawson, 3, and Callan, eight months, during the throes of a postpartum breakdown, then tried to kill herself at their Duxbury home on January 24, 2023.
—Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 22 Jan. 2026
The wide-ranging storm has brought blizzard conditions, strong winds, an ice storm and tornadoes and is being followed by extreme temperature drops that are plunging millions back into the throes of winter.
—Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 29 Dec. 2025
The United States first seized Guantánamo Bay in 1898, when Washington intervened in the last throes of Cuba’s thirty-year struggle for independence from Spain.
—Miriam Pensack, The Dial, 30 Sep. 2025
As Wes, Sope Dirisu has played a compelling figure in the blind throes of a meteoric rise.
—Andy Andersen, Vulture, 18 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
Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 26 Jan. 2026
But for many Burmese people, already living in the throes of war, the outcome of the election is unlikely to change much.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 23 Jan. 2026
Clancy allegedly strangled her children Cora, 5, Dawson, 3, and Callan, eight months, during the throes of a postpartum breakdown, then tried to kill herself at their Duxbury home on January 24, 2023.
—Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 22 Jan. 2026
The wide-ranging storm has brought blizzard conditions, strong winds, an ice storm and tornadoes and is being followed by extreme temperature drops that are plunging millions back into the throes of winter.
—Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 29 Dec. 2025
The United States first seized Guantánamo Bay in 1898, when Washington intervened in the last throes of Cuba’s thirty-year struggle for independence from Spain.
—Miriam Pensack, The Dial, 30 Sep. 2025
As Wes, Sope Dirisu has played a compelling figure in the blind throes of a meteoric rise.
—Andy Andersen, Vulture, 18 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for throes
Noun
-
If Grosz’s first book, The Examined Life, was all about his patients’ personal lives and struggles, Love’s Labor—which is written in a similar way, as a series of case studies—is much more interested in his patients’ approach to love, specifically.—
Daisy Jones,
Vogue,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Continue reading … ROYAL RECKONING – Princesses Beatrice, Eugenie struggle with fallout from latest Epstein doc drop.—
,
FOXNews.com,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The star of the cache was a near-complete Iron Age battle trumpet, or carnyx — used to blare eerie sounds in battle and rally troops against the enemy.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Alain Hamel is credited with catching the giant flatfish, which was pulled through the ice after a two-and-a-half hour battle.—
Dac Collins,
Outdoor Life,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Bass, in turn, warned the county’s actions could cause the city to backslide in its fight against homelessness.—
David Zahniser,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Feb. 2026
-
As tensions rise, Ron and Veronica's brutal knock-down fight in the middle of the newsroom is the perfect comic expression of the battle of the sexes.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
There have been no independent polls in the race since Mahan entered the fray.—
Ethan Varian,
Mercury News,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Not long after his Monday swearing-in to the Evanston/Skokie School District 65 Board of Education, Chris Van Nostrand jumped into the fray during a presentation on recent student achievement.—
Shun Graves,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The collar will help scientists understand the movement patterns and reproductive behavior of the Sierra Nevada red fox, providing key insights to guide conservation efforts.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
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The former county clerk in Colorado was convicted of multiple crimes for letting someone access data from a secure voting system in an effort to prove unsubstantiated 2020 election conspiracies.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Throes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/throes. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.
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