Word
agony
US/ˈæɡəni/
UK/ˈæɡəni/
Definitions
01extreme pain
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. extreme physical or mental pain that is very hard to bear.
n. extreme physical suffering or intense mental distress. Often used in the singular to describe a specific episode of suffering.
日本語:激しい苦痛※
“He lay on the ground in agony after breaking his leg during the match.”
“The family waited in agony for news of the survivors, their distress mounting with every hour that passed without a word from the rescue team.”
02the struggle of dying
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Literary · Archaic
n. the final struggle or pain someone feels just before they die.
n. the final physical struggle or suffering preceding death. Often used in literary or medical contexts to describe the transition to passing.
“The old stories described the hero's final agony on the battlefield.”
“The poet captures the quiet agony of the fading year, drawing a parallel between the dying light of autumn and the end of a human life.”
Synonyms
03religious suffering
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Religion Formal
n. the great suffering of Jesus Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane.
n. the intense spiritual and physical suffering of Jesus Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane. Usually capitalized in this specific theological context.
“The painting depicts the Agony in the Garden with dark, moody colours.”
“The theologian argued that the Agony in the Garden represented the ultimate intersection of human fear and divine will.”
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“Also on the Metro's front page, "Cindy's agony" as Presley Gerber, son of supermodel Cindy Crawford, has died aged 27.” “Gallardo rolled on the floor in agony and the Mexican fans roared, but Faghani carried on.” Etymology
14th century, via Old French and Latin from Ancient Greek ἀγωνία (agōnía, “emulation, competition, struggle”), from ἀγών (agṓn, “contest”). Specifically of the struggle that precedes death (mortal agony) from the 1540s. The sense of "extreme pain" from c. 1600.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0