agony
gb/ˈæɡəni/ us/ˈæɡəni/
B2
English
~ 3300
kín, gyötrelem, haláltusa, végvonaglás
NOUN
B2
1
Usage pattern:
in [agony]
She was in agony after breaking her leg.
Szörnyű kínokat élt át, miután eltört a lába.
The news left him in an agony of grief.
A hír gyötrő fájdalomba taszította.
He screamed in agony as the hot water hit his skin.
The wait for the test results was sheer agony.
They endured the agonies of separation for two years.
Learner examples
She was in agony from her toothache.
Kínok között volt a fogfájása miatt.
He cried in agony after the fall.
Az esés után kínjában sírt.
Waiting for the call was agony for her.
The player was in agony on the field.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'agony' with 'annoyance' or 'discomfort', but 'agony' is much stronger and means extreme suffering.
Meaning
Extreme pain or suffering
Collocations
in agony
|pain and agony
|scream in agony
|agonies of doubt
|hours of agony
Synonyms
torment (Can refer to both mental and physical suffering; slightly more literary.)
|
misery (Often refers to long-term unhappiness rather than acute pain.)
Antonyms
comfort (The state of being physically or emotionally at ease.)
|
relief (The easing or removal of pain or distress.)
Themes
emotions
|health
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Very strong physical pain or very strong feelings of sadness or worry.
Intense physical or emotional suffering, often to the point of being unbearable.
NOUN
C1
LITERARY
2
haláltusa
C1
végvonaglás
C1
Usage pattern:
the agony of [something]
The soldier's final agony was mercifully brief.
A katona haláltusája kegyesen rövid volt.
The old ship sank in its last agony.
Az öreg hajó utolsó vonaglásai közepette süllyedt el.
The play depicts the agonies of a dying man.
Learner examples
The animal was in its last agony.
Az állat a haláltusáját vívta.
The man’s agony ended when help came.
A férfi gyötrelmei akkor értek véget, amikor megérkezett a segítség.
The story tells of the hero’s final agony.
Meaning
Final struggle before death or ending
Collocations
death agony
|final agony
|agony of defeat
Synonyms
death throes (Specifically refers to the final moments before death.)
Themes
emotions
|literature
|health
|time
Definition
The great pain and struggle that happens just before death or something ends.
A violent struggle or intense suffering, especially in the moments before death or a decisive end.
Grammar
Dictionary form
agony
IPA
GB/ˈæɡəni/
US/ˈæɡəni/
Syllables & stress
agony (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (agony)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: agony
- Plural: agonies, agony
Word family
Expressions
in agony
1/ˈɪn ˈæɡəni/
fixed phrase
Suffering extreme pain or distress
To feel very strong pain or sadness.
Examples
- She lay in agony after the accident.
- He was in agony waiting for the verdict.
the agony of defeat
1/ðə ˈæɡəni əv dɪfˈit/
fixed phrase
Severe disappointment from losing
The very strong sadness you feel when you lose.
Examples
- The team knew the agony of defeat after the final match.
- She tasted victory last year but now feels the agony of defeat.
prolong the agony
1/pɹəlˈɔŋ ðə ˈæɡəni/
idiom
informal
Make suffering or suspense last longer
To make a time of pain, sadness, or waiting longer than needed.
Examples
- Let’s not prolong the agony—just tell us the result.
- They prolonged the agony by delaying the announcement.
prolong the agony
2/pɹəlˈɔŋ ðə ˈæɡəni/
idiom
delay something unpleasant unnecessarily
To wait longer before doing or saying something unpleasant, making people feel bad for more time.
Examples
- I won’t prolong the agony—here are the exam results.
- Let’s not prolong the agony; just tell her the truth now.