English Dictionary | Thesaurus | Translator | COBUILD Grammar Patterns | Scrabble | Blog
  • English
  • This page in
    American
    Italiano
    Deutsch
    Español
    Português
    हिंदी
    简体中文
| Sign Up | Log In
 
English
Menu
English Dictionary Thesaurus Translator Grammar Scrabble Blog
  • English
  • This page in
    American
    Italiano
    Deutsch
    Español
    Português
    हिंदी
    简体中文
Sign Up Log In

Definition of 'agony'

Word Frequency

agony

(ægəni )
Word forms: plural agonies
uncountable noun
Agony is great physical or mental pain.
A new machine may save thousands of animals from the agony of drug tests.
She called out in agony.
As a young man he suffered agonies of religious doubt.
Synonyms: suffering, pain, distress, misery   More Synonyms of agony
COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers

Video: pronunciation of 'agony'

Word Frequency

agony in British

(ˈæɡənɪ )
noun plural -nies
1. 
acute physical or mental pain; anguish
2. 
the suffering or struggle preceding death
3.  pile on the agony
4. (modifier)
relating to or advising on personal problems about which people have written to the media
agony column
agony writer
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word origin of 'agony'
C14: via Late Latin from Greek agōnia struggle, from agōn contest
Word Frequency

agony in American

(ˈægəni ; agˈənē)
nounWord forms: plural ˈagonies
1. 
very great mental or physical pain
2. 
death pangs
3. 
a convulsive struggle
4. 
a sudden, strong outburst (of emotion)
an agony of joy
SIMILAR WORDS:  disˈtress
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Word origin of 'agony'
ME agonie < L agonia < Gr agōnia, a contest for victory < agōn, agon

Example sentences containing 'agony'

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content. Read more…
Footage showed the man writhing in agony as the tigers passed him between them. Times, Sunday Times (2017)He seemed to make that agony more acute in me than it need have been. Jackson, Rosie Mothers who Leave (1994)Will you preserve me from agony and pain and aches? Christianity Today (2000)But our father said they could hardly eat anything because of their mental agony. Times, Sunday Times (2011)The eternal cycle of agony and ecstasy would see ecstasy prevailing. Times, Sunday Times (2012)Turn to our election agony aunts timesonline. Times, Sunday Times (2010)The man yelled in agony before the other cop landed four punches in his face. The Sun (2010)For much of the race we are out of breath and in agony over the physical effort. The Sun (2013)Was it the memory of the agony and pain of childbirth that made her feel so sorrowful? Clerk, Jayana & Siegel, Ruth Modern Literatures of the Non-Western World: Where the Waters Are Born (1995)Our enthusiasm was tempered by the agony and ecstasy of the bus journeys. Davey, Ray Rev. & Cole, John A Channel of Peace (1993)Agony aunts declared it the death of marriage. Times, Sunday Times (2010)At first it was absolute agony with the pain sharpest in the backs of my calves. Frankie Dettori with Jonathan Powell FRANKIE: The Autobiography of Frankie Dettori (2004)Is this a look of agony or ecstasy? Times, Sunday Times (2013)Very few take its physical and emotional agonies to heart as do those in this corner of the country. Times, Sunday Times (2009)The death agony is not pretty. Times, Sunday Times (2006)But agony is piled on agony. Times, Sunday Times (2010)But the agony and anguish remain - as does the hope. The Sun (2010)Soldiers smile as German troops burn to death in agony. The Sun (2014)We were in mental agony, together yet apart. Times, Sunday Times (2012)Eight goals this season and he can pile the agony on struggling Luton. The Sun (2007)Accused is the story of the agony of one man 's life of denial. Times, Sunday Times (2012)For those who do not make it, it will be a mental agony to complement the physical one they have endured. Times, Sunday Times (2015)

Trends of 'agony'

In Common Usage. agony is one of the 10000 most commonly used words in the Collins dictionary

View usage for:

Translations for 'agony'

British English: agony /ˈæɡənɪ/ NOUN
Agony is great physical or mental suffering.
She called out in agony.
  • American English: agony
  • Arabic: أَلَمْ سكرة الموت
  • Brazilian Portuguese: agonia
  • Chinese: 痛楚
  • Croatian: agonija
  • Czech: utrpení
  • Danish: pine
  • Dutch: kwelling
  • European Spanish: agonía
  • Finnish: tuska
  • French: agonie
  • German: Qual
  • Greek: αγωνία
  • Italian: agonia
  • Japanese: 苦悶
  • Korean: 고통
  • Norwegian: pine
  • Polish: agonia
  • European Portuguese: agonia
  • Romanian: agonie
  • Russian: агония
  • Spanish: agonía
  • Swedish: vånda
  • Thai: ความทรมาน
  • Turkish: ıstırap
  • Ukrainian: агонія
  • Vietnamese: cơn đau đớn

Translate your text for free

Nearby words of 'agony'

  • agonizedly
  • agonizing
  • agonothetes
  • agony
  • agony aunt
  • agony column
  • agood

  • All ENGLISH words that begin with 'A'

Related Terms of 'agony'

  • agony aunt
  • agony column
  • pile on the agony
  • agony uncle
  • put on the agony

  • View more related words

Source

Definition of agony from the Collins English Dictionary

The noun phrase

A noun phrase is a word or group of words that can function as the subject, the object, or the complement in a sentence. The manager interviewed all the applicants on Tuesday. Lydia was the su...
Read more about 'The noun phrase'
Word of the day:
bard
A bard is a poet.
See full definition
Apr 23, 2018
Fed up with the great British weather? Here’s how to afford that dream summer escape
From planning early to knowing where to look, these top tips will help you fulfil your summer holiday desires
Read more
The etymology behind 4 eggs-ellent Springtime words
We’ve explored the diverse etymology of 4 eggs-ellent words associated with spring.
Read more
Up Lit, Alexa Laugh & Meet Me at McDonald’s Hair: March’s Words In The News
Catch up on the latest words in the news this March with Robert Groves.
Read more
Join the Collins community
All the latest wordy news, linguistic insights, offers and competitions every month.
Read more
Scrabble score for 'agony': 9
Latest Word Submissions
Barrecore Apr 18, 2018
wido Apr 18, 2018
centimorgan Apr 17, 2018
gender expansive Apr 16, 2018
Carthritis Apr 15, 2018
Submit View More
Browse the English Dictionary
  • #
  • A
  • B
  • C
  • D
  • E
  • F
  • G
  • H
  • I
  • J
  • K
  • L
  • M
  • N
  • O
  • P
  • Q
  • R
  • S
  • T
  • U
  • V
  • W
  • X
  • Y
  • Z
View all dictionaries...
  • View more
  • API
  • B2B Partnerships
  • Advertising
  • Word Banks
  • Collins COBUILD
  • Collins ELT
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Contact us
  • Languages
  • English
  • Thesaurus
  • Grammar
  • French
  • German
  • Spanish
  • Italian
  • Chinese
  • Portuguese
  • Hindi
  • Word Lists
  • Word of the Year
  • Scrabble
  • COBUILD Anniversary
© Collins 2018