Agony
/ˈæɡəni/
nounBeginnerCommonGeneral
Meaning
Question
Definitions
1
Extreme pain or suffering.
/ˈæɡəni/
nounnegativeBeginner
General
Extreme physical or mental suffering
The agony of the broken bone was unbearable.
💡 Simply: Very bad pain or suffering.
More Examples
2
She was in such agony that she couldn't speak.
How It's Used
Medical
"The patient was in agony after the surgery."
Literary
"He described the loss of his loved one as an agony."
From Old French agonie, from Late Latin agonia, from Greek agonía "struggle, contest," from ágōn "contest, struggle."
The word 'agony' has been used to describe intense suffering since the Middle Ages, often in religious contexts.
Memory tip
Think of 'agonizing' over a difficult decision – that's the feeling of agony.
Practice
aganyagonieagoney
Usage
20%Spoken
80%Written