agony

noun

ag·​o·​ny ˈa-gə-nē 

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

• Gehenna
• hell
• horror
• misery
• murder
• nightmare
• torment
• torture

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

Examples of agony in a Sentence

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 most exciting and most dreadful two words in all of sports are headed to South Florida on Monday night, and those two words will offer one team unparalleled joy and the other deepest agony – both extremes bone-deep and eternal. —Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 22 June 2024

His agony stemmed partly from the relationship his girlfriend, Ms. Vorrasi, had developed with the intimidating Joseph Howell, then 37, who didn’t live in the Jungle but was known for supplying drugs and making good on violent threats. —Photographs Todd Heisler, New York Times, 19 May 2024

Although death is inevitable for all of us, our legislative leaders’ inaction on this issue continues to translate into far too much intolerable and unnecessary agony throughout New York. —Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 14 May 2024

My body feels agony after hours of sitting or standing. —Kinza Shenn, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 May 2024

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

Phrases Containing agony

• agony aunt
• agony column

Kids Definition

agony

noun

ag·​o·​ny ˈag-ə-nē 

plural agonies

1

: intense pain of mind or body

2

: a strong sudden display of emotion : outburst

an agony of delight

Etymology

Middle English agonie "agony," from Latin agonia (same meaning), from Greek agōnia "struggle," from agōn "gathering, contest for a prize"

Word Origin

In ancient Greece a public gathering was called agōn. 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 agōnia. 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 originally meant a happy celebration.

Medical Definition

agony

noun

ag·​o·​ny ˈag-ə-nē 

plural agonies

1

: intense pain of mind or body

2

: the struggle that precedes death