agonal
Near the end
Agonal describes the final moments of life or the physiological processes of dying.
In medical contexts, agonal breathing refers to the irregular, gasping respirations that occur as death approaches—not true breathing but a brainstem reflex.
The term extends to other end-stage phenomena: agonal rhythm, agonal convulsions.
Something agonal pertains to the death struggle itself.
At the endpoint
- moribundNear death, failing
- death throesFinal moments of dying
- gaspingBreathing in sharp gulps
- labored breathingEffortful, strained respiration
palliative · expiration · demise · passing · final moments · last breath · end-of-life · respiratory
Acts of drawing air
- breathingPulmonary gas exchange
- rhythmPatterned stress and silence
- gaspingBreathing in sharp gulps
- myoclonusSudden brief muscle jerks
seizure · cardiac · electrocardiogram · fibrillation · asystole · clinical · vital signs · pulse
Organized competitive event
- conflictOpposition between parties
- combativeInclined toward conflict
- strivingEarnest sustained endeavor
- wrestlingCombat sport requiring holds
grappling · contending · exertion · intense · fierce · desperate · life-and-death · fight
Geometric measure of rotation
- vertexPoint where edges converge
- polygonMultisided plane figure
- diagonalSlanting line or path
- angularSharp-edged or rawboned
triangular · supplementary · complementary · adjacent · interior · exterior · acute · obtuse
terminal
At the endpoint
- moribundNear death, failing
- death throesFinal moments of dying
- gaspingBreathing in sharp gulps
labored breathing · palliative · expiration · demise · passing · final moments · last breath · end-of-life · respiratory · convulsive
respirations
Acts of drawing air
myoclonus · seizure · cardiac · electrocardiogram · fibrillation · asystole · clinical · vital signs · pulse · neurological
contest
Organized competitive event
- conflictOpposition between parties
- combativeInclined toward conflict
- strivingEarnest sustained endeavor
wrestling · grappling · contending · exertion · intense · fierce · desperate · life-and-death · fight · battle
angle
Geometric measure of rotation
angular · triangular · supplementary · complementary · adjacent · interior · exterior · acute · obtuse · reflex
agonalthriving
Succeeding vigorously
vital · vigorous · flourishing · healthy · robust
agonalpeaceful
Free from disturbance
serene · tranquil · effortless · harmonious · placid
- in agony
- agony auntNewspaper problem-solver
- dopamine agonistCompound mimicking neurotransmitter action
- agony columnReader advice section
- partial agonistLigand producing submaximal effect
- acute agonyIntense, sharp suffering
agony, antagonist, agonizing, protagonist, antagonism, antagonize, agonize, agonized, agonist