agony
Excruciating mental anguish
Agony is extreme physical or mental suffering—pain so intense it dominates consciousness.
A person in agony writhes, cries out, can think of nothing else.
The word applies to both bodily torment the agony of a kidney stone and emotional anguish the agony of watching her marriage fall apart.
To agonize over a decision is to struggle painfully with it.
The agony of defeat has become a sports cliché.
Intense mental suffering
- despairTotal absence of hope
- griefIntense sorrow from loss
- heartacheDeep emotional distress
- sorrowDeep emotional distress
misery · distress · heartbreak · woe · torment · suffering · desolation · hopelessness
Bodily or emotional distress
- throbBeat with intensity
- achePersistent dull discomfort
- sorenessTender, painful sensation
- stabbingWounding with a blade
shooting · burning · cramping · spasm · pang · twinge · writhing · convulsion
Frame for holding items
- tormentSevere prolonged suffering
- thumbscrewCompression torture device
- waterboardingControlled asphyxiation interrogation technique
- inquisitionSustained, probing investigation
flaying · pillory · dungeon · infliction · cruelty · brutality · prolonged · interrogation
Difficult, painful experience
- tribulationState of great distress
- hardshipSuffering from difficult circumstances
- adversitySevere difficulty or suffering
- trialJudicial examination of claims
turmoil · travail · plight · strife · struggle · endurance · perseverance · fortitude
Vocal expression of emotion
- screamLoud sharp cry
- wailProlonged mournful cry
- moanLow vocal complaint
- groanLow vocal expression of distress
howl · shriek · sob · weeping · lament · outcry · plea · anguished
State of awaiting something
- uncertaintyState of being unsure
- waitingRemaining in expectation
- dreadIntense anticipatory fear
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
tension · nail-biting · cliff-hanger · prolonged · unbearable · suspenseful · drawn-out · interminable
anguish
Intense mental suffering
sorrow · misery · distress · heartbreak · woe · torment · suffering · desolation · hopelessness · mourning
pain
Bodily or emotional distress
stabbing · shooting · burning · cramping · spasm · pang · twinge · writhing · convulsion · throbbing
rack
Frame for holding items
- tormentSevere prolonged suffering
- thumbscrewCompression torture device
- waterboardingControlled asphyxiation interrogation technique
inquisition · flaying · pillory · dungeon · infliction · cruelty · brutality · prolonged · interrogation · persecution
ordeal
Difficult, painful experience
- tribulationState of great distress
- hardshipSuffering from difficult circumstances
- adversitySevere difficulty or suffering
trial · turmoil · travail · plight · strife · struggle · endurance · perseverance · fortitude · grit
cry
Vocal expression of emotion
groan · howl · shriek · sob · weeping · lament · outcry · plea · anguished · guttural
anticipation
State of awaiting something
- uncertaintyState of being unsure
- waitingRemaining in expectation
- dreadIntense anticipatory fear
anxiety · tension · nail-biting · cliff-hanger · prolonged · unbearable · suspenseful · drawn-out · interminable · white-knuckle
- griefgrief, mourning, bereavement, sorrow, grieving
- challengeschallenge, difficult, hard, challenging, tough
- Biblical Sufferingaffliction, anguish, Job, lament, lamentation
- Hellhellfire, brimstone, lake of fire, eternal fire, perdition
- ordealsordeal, trial by ordeal, ordeal by fire, ordeal by water, tribulation
- Passioncrown of thorns, Good Friday, Gethsemane, scourging, nails
agonycomfort
Ease or soothing relief
relief · ease · solace · consolation · assuagement
agonypeace
Freedom from disturbance
serenity · tranquility · calm · composure · equanimity
- in agony
- agony auntNewspaper problem-solver
- agony columnReader advice section
- acute agonyIntense, sharp suffering
- agony uncleMale advice columnist
antagonist, agonizing, protagonist, antagonize, agonize, antagonistic, agonized, agonies, agonizingly