agony

UK: /ˈægəni/ US: /ˈægəni/ ,(ag′ə nē)

Inflections of 'agony' (n): npl: agonies

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

ag•o•ny /ˈægəni/   n., pl. -nies. 

1. extreme mental or physical pain or suffering:
   [uncountable] to cry out in agony.
   [countable] suffered many agonies.

See -agon-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

ag•o•ny  (ag′ə nē), n., pl. -nies. 

1. extreme and generally prolonged pain;
   intense physical or mental suffering.
2. a display or outburst of intense mental or emotional excitement:
   an agony of joy.
3. the struggle preceding natural death:
   mortal agony.
4. a violent struggle.
5. (often cap.) [Theol.] the sufferings of Christ in the garden of Gethsemane.

• Greek, equivalent. to agó̄n agon + -ia -y³
• Late Latin agōnia
• Anglo-French)
• Middle English agonye (1350–1400

Synonyms

• 1. anguish, torment, torture. See pain. 
• 2. paroxysm.

Antonyms

• 1. comfort, ease, pleasure.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

agony / ˈæɡənɪ/ noun ( -nies)

1. acute physical or mental pain; anguish
2. the suffering or struggle preceding death

Etymology: 14th Century: via Late Latin from Greek agōnia struggle, from agōn contest