The death throesof something are its final stages, just before it fails completely or ends.
[literary]
Their work is a despairing metaphor for a society in its death throes.
...the death throes of the family empire.
2. plural noun [oft in poss N]
If a person or animal is in their death throes, they are dying and making violent, uncontrolled movements, usually because they are suffering great pain.
death throes in British English
(dɛθ θrəʊz)
plural noun
1.
convulsive movements associated with the painful or violent death of a person or animal
I have seen such a creature in its death throes
2.
the final stage in the destruction of something
The dead tycoon's sons will remain in their plush offices overseeing the death throesof the family empire.
Their work is a despairing metaphor for a society in its death throes.
Examples of 'death throes' in a sentence
death throes
There was one of a sun in its death throes throwing out great shells of red and mauve gas.
Isabel Wolff RESCUING ROSE (2002)
The orange shoe shaped rather like an opera singer's body when she's in her death throes and trying to make it until the aria's finished?