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In Ancient Greece, a public gathering was called agon. Since the Greeks placed a high value on sports and athletic competition, there were almost always athletic events at gatherings on festival days. The struggle to win the prize in such contests came to be called agonia. This term came also to be used for any difficult physical struggle and then for the pain that went with it—physical or mental. Our English word agony, meaning “intense pain of mind or body,” thus comes from a word that meant a happy celebration.
Examples of agony in a Sentence
Gretchen Morgenson, NBC news, 18 July 2025
Thank God that my family members could get vaccinated and have been free of the pain and agony of these illnesses.
—Chicago Tribune, 7 July 2025
The point isn’t just to resolve in-the-moment agony.
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 16 July 2025
Shortly before halftime, Musiala collided with Gianluigi Donnarumma in the PSG penalty area and went down in agony clutching his left ankle, which appeared to be twisted at an unnatural angle.
—Jamie Barton, CNN Money, 6 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for agony
Cite this Entry
“Agony.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/agony. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Middle English agonie "agony," from Latin agonia (same meaning), from Greek agōnia "struggle," from agōn "gathering, contest for a prize"
Medical Definition
agony
noun
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