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
While the Knicks are now the toast of the town for the first time since 1973, the other sports teams that call the metropolitan area home are each in the throes of a long championship drought.
—
Jeff Capellini, CBS News, 18 June 2026
First filmed before the pandemic and launched in its throes, a survivor of the era of streaming wars, corporate consolidation and Hollywood strikes, HBO’s addictively dissolute workplace drama remains as ambitious and authoritative as ever.
—Matt Brennan, Los Angeles Times, 15 June 2026
The weeklong visit to Spain by Pope Leo XIV has brought the pontiff to a once-staunchly Catholic country that has long been in the throes of waning religious practice and, recently, a political crisis for the governing Socialist Party.
—ABC News, 6 June 2026
His own son, Ethan, in the throes of a mental health crisis, threw Tom’s wife down the stairs, killing her.
—Justin Kroll, Deadline, 2 June 2026
An on-duty FDNY firefighter in the throes of a mental health episode was arrested for punching an NYPD officer in the face during an unprovoked attack inside a Queens hospital, police sources said Friday.
—Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 29 May 2026
That felt like the day when patience snapped with Slot as no Liverpool manager had faced that level of dissent on home turf since the final throes of Roy Hodgson’s tenure in late 2010.
—James Pearce, New York Times, 28 May 2026
Nearly a century ago, with many Americans in the throes of the Great Depression, catfish cabins began popping up along creeks, rivers, and bayous across the center of the rural South, particularly in Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Louisiana.
—Chelsea Brasted, Southern Living, 15 May 2026
Since 2019, the tiny Mediterranean country has been in the throes of an economic crisis that pulverized the value of its local currency and its banking system.
—Malak Harb, Fortune, 15 May 2026
Jeff Capellini, CBS News, 18 June 2026
First filmed before the pandemic and launched in its throes, a survivor of the era of streaming wars, corporate consolidation and Hollywood strikes, HBO’s addictively dissolute workplace drama remains as ambitious and authoritative as ever.
—Matt Brennan, Los Angeles Times, 15 June 2026
The weeklong visit to Spain by Pope Leo XIV has brought the pontiff to a once-staunchly Catholic country that has long been in the throes of waning religious practice and, recently, a political crisis for the governing Socialist Party.
—ABC News, 6 June 2026
His own son, Ethan, in the throes of a mental health crisis, threw Tom’s wife down the stairs, killing her.
—Justin Kroll, Deadline, 2 June 2026
An on-duty FDNY firefighter in the throes of a mental health episode was arrested for punching an NYPD officer in the face during an unprovoked attack inside a Queens hospital, police sources said Friday.
—Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 29 May 2026
That felt like the day when patience snapped with Slot as no Liverpool manager had faced that level of dissent on home turf since the final throes of Roy Hodgson’s tenure in late 2010.
—James Pearce, New York Times, 28 May 2026
Nearly a century ago, with many Americans in the throes of the Great Depression, catfish cabins began popping up along creeks, rivers, and bayous across the center of the rural South, particularly in Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Louisiana.
—Chelsea Brasted, Southern Living, 15 May 2026
Since 2019, the tiny Mediterranean country has been in the throes of an economic crisis that pulverized the value of its local currency and its banking system.
—Malak Harb, Fortune, 15 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for throes
Noun
-
The couple also has been open about their struggle with IVF in recent years.—
Emily St. Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
16 June 2026
-
The family’s legal struggles have loomed large over the last several years, but Steven says two moments in particular stand out as the most difficult.—
Deirdre Durkan,
PEOPLE,
15 June 2026
Noun
-
After several years as an orphan, Pumphrey died in a South Caroline pine forest on August 16, 1780, in what was one of the bloodiest battles of the Revolutionary War.—
JT Moodee Lockman,
CBS News,
19 June 2026
-
Aegon was severely injured by Aemond and Vhagar in that battle.—
Tracy Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
Noun
-
Most baseball fights produce a little shoving, occasional hugging, some dancing and pulled powderpuff punches.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
13 June 2026
-
Coming just three days after launch, and after tech leaders and social media influencers showcased Fable’s leap in performance over earlier models, the sudden block has become a larger fight over who decides when an AI system is too powerful for open access.—
Ron Schmelzer,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2026
Noun
-
Florida’s Revenue Estimating Conference, a panel of economists that studies the fiscal impacts of legislation, released its findings Friday, the first to come from analysts who stand apart from the political fray.—
Ryan Gillespie,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 June 2026
-
The original summer movie filmmaker meets the new generation of directors this weekend, with Steven Spielberg’s Disclosure Day entering the fray amid a summer dominated by Gen Z hits Obsession and Backrooms.—
Aaron Couch,
HollywoodReporter,
13 June 2026
Noun
-
Pan made national headlines during his time in Legislature for leading the state’s efforts to toughen school vaccine requirements.—
Mathew Miranda,
Sacbee.com,
17 June 2026
-
Eco effort This is a fragile environment—Kerlingarfjöll was designated a Protected Nature Reserve by Umhverfisstofnun (the Environmental Agency of Iceland) in 2020.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Throes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/throes. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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