agony

noun

ˈa-gə-nē How to pronounce agony (audio)
Definition of agonynext
1
as in nightmare
a situation or state that causes great suffering and unhappiness waiting all those hours to hear if he'd survived the plane crash was pure agony

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in distress
a state of great suffering of body or mind the agony of never knowing what happened to her son

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in explosion
a sudden intense expression of strong feeling the announcement that the war was over unleashed a mass agony of joy

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun agony differ from other similar words?

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.

in agony over the death of their child

Where would distress be a reasonable alternative to agony?

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 hurricane put everyone in great distress

When is it sensible to use misery instead of agony?

The meanings of misery and agony largely overlap; however, misery stresses the unhappiness attending especially sickness, poverty, or loss.

the homeless live with misery every day

When is suffering a more appropriate choice than agony?

In some situations, the words suffering and agony are roughly equivalent. However, suffering implies conscious endurance of pain or distress.

the suffering of famine victims

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of agony Madeline Dunn says that one of her 18-month-old twins, Kai, woke up at 11 pm screaming in agony. —Cara Lynn Shultz, People.com, 2 July 2025 Meanwhile, Joseph writhes in the agony of his own newfound girl craziness (and cleavage obsession). —Daniel Dockery, Vulture, 7 July 2025 Williams was never offered any other clear pathway to finding relief—even as the agony from her fibroids was getting worse. —Kayla Greaves, SELF, 3 July 2025 Despite the agony of a playoff defeat for my Celtics, the culmination of the NBA season is a massive highlight. —Jeff Chow, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for agony
Recent Examples of Synonyms for agony
  1. nightmare
  2. distress
  3. explosion
  4. misery
  5. anguish
  6. burst
  7. torture
  8. pain
Noun
  • On top of the bathroom problems, the man says the kitchen is also a nightmare thanks to Jerry and Daisy, who leave dirty dishes around.
    — Ashley Vega, People.com, 27 July 2025
  • An ordinary evening rush hour turned into a nightmare for motorists crossing the Interstate 35W bridge in Minneapolis on Aug. 1, 2007.
    — Nick Woltman, Twin Cities, 25 July 2025
Definition of nightmare
Noun
  • Extreme heat can also be an obstacle to exercising, spending time in nature, and socializing, all of which can make people feel good and also double as important coping mechanisms for emotional distress.
    — Yasmin Tayag, The Atlantic, 26 July 2025
  • During pregnancy, their mothers endured heat, as well as dehydration and emotional distress.
    — Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 25 July 2025
Definition of distress
Noun
  • The road closures and evacuation orders around the Esparto fireworks explosion site were lifted on Friday, allowing a closer look at the site where seven people were killed in the July 1 blast.
    — Nathaniel Levine, Sacbee.com, 19 July 2025
  • The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has identified the three deputies killed in Friday’s training facility explosion at an East Los Angeles County training site.
    — Christina Shaw, FOXNews.com, 19 July 2025
Definition of explosion
Noun
  • That simplistic assessment would not account for the first student’s misery or the second child’s enjoyment.
    — Iddo Gefen, Twin Cities, 16 July 2025
  • Forced to comply with stereotypical African-American misery, Burnett works best outside Hollywood formula.
    — Armond White, National Review, 25 June 2025
Definition of misery
Noun
  • But the first lady and I are here in Texas to express the love and support and the anguish of our entire nation in the aftermath of this really horrific and deadly flood.
    — Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 11 July 2025
  • Ming-Na Wen Tapped Into Deep Emotions To Play Dr. Fong In ‘Karate Kid: Legends’ While Ming-Na Wen doesn’t throw a punch in Karate Kid: Legends, that doesn’t mean her character hasn’t been in past battles, particularly those dealing with mental anguish.
    — Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025
Definition of anguish
Noun
  • The galaxy can be seen undergoing a burst of star formation thanks to the tidal influence of a galactic neighbor, with the glowing red form of an emission nebula visible throughout, giving the impression of a cosmic firework display.
    — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 13 July 2025
  • The raging river bursts from its banks around this time, sweeping homes, cars, campers and cabins downstream.
    — Rebekah Riess, CNN Money, 12 July 2025
Definition of burst
Noun
  • Abrego Garcia's lawyers recently claimed in court documents that he was beaten and subjected to psychological torture.
    — arkansasonline.com, arkansasonline.com, 12 July 2025
  • After the torture was over, Anisimova covered her head with a towel before asking to leave the court.
    — Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 12 July 2025
Definition of torture
Noun
  • In April, Robinson teamed up with another father who understands the pain of losing a child all too well: Joseph Petito.
    — Julia Bonavita , Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 19 July 2025
  • At least half of the people with PsA will experience symptoms in their feet, such as swelling, pain, and tenderness.
    — Sherri Gordon, Health, 19 July 2025
Definition of pain

Browse Nearby Words

agonizingly
agony
agrarian
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Agony.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/agony. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.

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