agony
noun
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
Example Sentences
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
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
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Phrases Containing agony
Kids Definition
agony
noun
Medical Definition
agony
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agony
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Synonyms & Similar Words
- nightmare
- misery
- torture
- torment
- horror
- hell
- murder
- ordeal
- curse
- tragedy
- misfortune
- calamity
- tribulation
- cross
- calvary
- Gehenna
- affliction
- trial
- thorn
- gall
- drag
- downer
- bummer
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- joy
- heaven
- pleasure
- delight
- entertainment
- recreation
- fun
- paradise
- diversion
- riot
- picnic
- lark
Synonyms & Similar Words
- anguish
- distress
- misery
- pain
- discomfort
- torment
- torture
- woe
- excruciation
- tribulation
- sorrow
- hurt
- sadness
- pang
- travail
- heartbreak
- hardship
- affliction
- difficulty
- strait(s)
- rack
- heartache
- ache
- trouble
- danger
- unhappiness
- emergency
- crucible
- cross
- joylessness
- soreness
- smarting
- jeopardy
- trial
- twinge
- throe
- stitch
- rigor
- pinch
- asperity
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- relief
- consolation
- comfort
- solace
- ease
- alleviation
- assuagement
- peace
- security
- well-being
Synonyms & Similar Words
- explosion
- burst
- outburst
- eruption
- spasm
- blaze
- paroxysm
- flash
- gust
- gale
- ebullition
- frenzy
- flare
- flush
- ecstasy
- gush
- rage
- storm
- fit
- flare-up
- delirium
- rapture
- tantrum
- blowup
- transport
- grouch
- firestorm
- furor
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of agony are distress, misery, and suffering. While all these words mean "the state of being in great trouble," agony suggests pain too intense to be borne.
The words distress and agony are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, distress implies an external and usually temporary cause of great physical or mental strain and stress.
The meanings of misery and agony largely overlap; however, misery stresses the unhappiness attending especially sickness, poverty, or loss.
In some situations, the words suffering and agony are roughly equivalent. However, suffering implies conscious endurance of pain or distress.