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IELTS BNC: 5575 COCA: 7577

agony

noun

ag·​o·​ny ˈa-gə-nē How to pronounce agony (audio)
plural agonies
1
a
: intense pain of mind or body : anguish, torture
the agony of rejection
the agony of defeat
b
: the struggle that precedes death
2
: a violent struggle or contest
the agonies of battle
3
: a strong sudden display (as of joy or delight) : outburst
an agony of mirth

Did you know?

In Ancient Greece, a public gathering was called agon. Since the Greeks placed a high value on sports and athletic competition, there were almost always athletic events at gatherings on festival days. The struggle to win the prize in such contests came to be called agonia. This term came also to be used for any difficult physical struggle and then for the pain that went with it—physical or mental. Our English word agony, meaning “intense pain of mind or body,” thus comes from a word that meant a happy celebration.

Synonyms

Choose the Right Synonym for agony

distress, suffering, misery, agony mean the state of being in great trouble.

distress implies an external and usually temporary cause of great physical or mental strain and stress.

the hurricane put everyone in great distress

suffering implies conscious endurance of pain or distress.

the suffering of famine victims

misery stresses the unhappiness attending especially sickness, poverty, or loss.

the homeless live with misery every day

agony suggests pain too intense to be borne.

in agony over the death of their child

Example Sentences

She was in terrible agony after breaking her leg. The medicine relieves the agony of muscle cramps very quickly. It was agony to watch him suffer like that.
Recent Examples on the Web The standards are needed, say passenger rights advocates, to ensure that passengers are not in agony during long flights and are able to escape a plane quickly in the case of an emergency. Tribune News Service, oregonlive, 21 Aug. 2022 The standards are needed, say passenger rights advocates, to ensure that passengers are not in agony during long flights and are able to escape a plane quickly in the case of an emergency. Hugo Martín, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2022 Around that time, while waiting in agony hundreds of miles away, Makia Henriques had a feeling. Lea Skene, Baltimore Sun, 2 Aug. 2022 Following Thursday’s outburst in court, Faith Burton, a family friend of Hughes, told Fox’s WXIX-TV that Hughes has been in agony since his son’s death. Lindsey Bever, Washington Post, 25 June 2022 His earlier reticence may have left many of his countrymen unprepared for the agony that was about to unfold. Stephen Collinson, CNN, 28 Feb. 2022 Davis cites the high percentage of young Black men in prison; Demetrius Burns sheds his tunic, whereupon the four men give way to agony and despair while the five women form a chorus line. Jeffrey Gantz, BostonGlobe.com, 5 June 2022 Using a mix of news coverage and cell phone footage, Roher cycles through the gut-clutching agony and chaos of the poisoning and its immediate aftermath. Justin Changfilm Critic, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2022 Jansen thinks often about the agony and ecstasy of his Olympic career — and of that salute to his sister. Erik Brady, USA TODAY, 2 Feb. 2022 See More

Word History

Etymology

Middle English agonie, borrowed from Anglo-French & Late Latin; Anglo-French agonie, borrowed from Late Latin agōnia, borrowed from Greek agōnía "contest, struggle, anguish," from agṓn "gathering, assembly at games, contest for a prize" (derivative of ágein "to lead, drive") + -ia -y entry 2 — more at agent

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of agony was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing agony

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