agony

[ ag-uh-nee ]

noun

, plural ag·o·nies.

1. extreme and generally prolonged pain; intense physical or mental suffering.

   Synonyms: torture, torment, anguish

   Antonyms: pleasure, ease, comfort

2. a display or outburst of intense mental or emotional excitement:

   an agony of joy.

   Synonyms: paroxysm

3. the struggle preceding natural death:

   mortal agony.

4. a violent struggle.
5. Often Agony. Theology. the sufferings of Christ in the garden of Gethsemane.

agony

/ ˈæɡənɪ /

noun

1. acute physical or mental pain; anguish
2. the suffering or struggle preceding death
3. pile on the agony or put on the agony or turn on the agony informal.
   to exaggerate one's distress for sympathy or greater effect
4. modifier relating to or advising on personal problems about which people have written to the media

   agony column

   agony writer

Word History and Origins

Origin of agony¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English agonye (from Anglo-French ), from Late Latin agōnia, from Greek, equivalent to agṓn “struggle” + -ia noun suffix: agon, -y ³

Word History and Origins

Origin of agony¹

C14: via Late Latin from Greek agōnia struggle, from agōn contest

Synonym Study

See pain.

Example Sentences

Wales head coach Gatland had indicated he hoped for ecstasy rather than agony this weekend but that was not to be the case and his position will come under scrutiny.

From BBC

"But then, in later life, I found out why and that just compounded the agony."

From BBC

In life, there are plenty of times when it makes sense to be gracious amid the agony of defeat.

From Slate

“It was like a potboiler of an atmosphere. The amount of grief and agony you ingested every day was hard to process. For us, it was intense. The stakes being high, the crimes being so serious,” she told the BBC.

From BBC

She battled through the "agony" in Paris to finish 78th in a time of 2:51:03 in 24C heat.

From BBC

Related Words

• anguish
• misery
• passion
• torment
• torture
• woe