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
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of agony
Another video showed a woman wailing in agony over one of the victims.
—
Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2025
On a nation’s struggle and agony; the nature of democracy; Trump vs. Canada; and more
On Monday, next to the Hudson River in New York, there was a demonstration.
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 12 Mar. 2025
The clip comes to a suspenseful end with Jo crying in agony while Bailey begins moving her to the OB ward.
—Liza Esquibias, People.com, 6 Mar. 2025
The death of this beautiful 12-year-old girl and the agony of her mother and family touched our entire nation greatly.
—Time Staff, TIME, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for agony
Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2025
On a nation’s struggle and agony; the nature of democracy; Trump vs. Canada; and more
On Monday, next to the Hudson River in New York, there was a demonstration.
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 12 Mar. 2025
The clip comes to a suspenseful end with Jo crying in agony while Bailey begins moving her to the OB ward.
—Liza Esquibias, People.com, 6 Mar. 2025
The death of this beautiful 12-year-old girl and the agony of her mother and family touched our entire nation greatly.
—Time Staff, TIME, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for agony
Recent Examples of Synonyms for agony
Noun
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Some important breaking news: Britain’s long ninja-nal nightmare is finally over.—
Jeffrey Blehar,
National Review,
28 Mar. 2025
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At his best, Hopkins is a mismatch nightmare at the four who can slash and finish at the rim with physicality, make plays for his teammates and defend with toughness.—
Sam Vecenie,
New York Times,
28 Mar. 2025
Noun
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At the Santa Monica test location after the rains, the level of beryllium — a metal that is toxic to fish and corals and causes respiratory distress in humans — was more than 10 times the maximum limit allowed.—
Corinne Purtill,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Mar. 2025
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The result: Some doctors and hospitals have held back on treatments, waiting for the fetal heartbeat to stop or for patients to wind up in undeniable distress.—
Kavitha Surana,
ProPublica,
27 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Since that offensive explosion, however, the Reds' bats have been dormant.—
Ryan Canfield,
FOXNews.com,
4 Apr. 2025
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In the latest explosion of violence, at least 31 people were killed and dozens others were injured Thursday after the Israeli military struck the Dar al-Arqam School in the Tuffah neighborhood in eastern Gaza City, according to a statement by the Gaza Civil Defense.—
Lauren Izso,
CNN Money,
3 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Ultimately, what is likely driving the protests is that these Palestinians are exhausted from the sheer misery Hamas has brought upon them.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2025
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Despite on-ice misery, the Flyers have packed at least 18,000 fans for every game during their last two homestands.—
Hailey Salvian,
New York Times,
27 Mar. 2025
Noun
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In the episode, Duran describes his mental anguish during that time and some of the steps he’s taken since then to improve his mental health.—
Jen McCaffrey,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2025
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And all of that anguish of going through that process of retrying to develop my body in a way that will never be the same anyway.—
Outside Online,
Outside Online,
26 Mar. 2025
Noun
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The transformed Hidden Jungle aviary bursts with hundreds of butterflies each spring, attracting butterfly enthusiasts from across the region.—
Ut Community Press,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Apr. 2025
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An 8-year-old Utah boy jumping on a trampoline miraculously survived after a strong wind burst sent him several feet into the air.—
David Chiu,
People.com,
7 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Perhaps the most famous contemporary example is China’s imprisonment and torture of artist-activist Ai Weiwei in 2011, who has been living in exile since 2015.—
Christine Ledbetter,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Apr. 2025
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His Divine Holiness, the Supreme Pontiff of Hinduism — fled India after being accused of rape, torture and child abuse.—
Mujib Mashal,
New York Times,
3 Apr. 2025
Noun
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For Lynn Hemsworth, chair of Derby County Supporters’ Club, who has been watching the Midlands side for 50 years, the pain of having a front-row seat for the poorest season a Premier League team have ever had hasn’t faded.—
Daniel Taylor,
New York Times,
2 Apr. 2025
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My husband had told me the same thing once, many years before, and like my boyfriend now his voice had been shot through not with passion but with pain.—
Hazlitt,
Hazlitt,
2 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Agony.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/agony. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.
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