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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
Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2025
Please, more of Isabella lightly teasing Marty about his tendency to flagellate himself while considering the agony of the human condition.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2025
Aches and pains don’t compare to the agony of an unrealized dream.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 13 Oct. 2025
But this specific take on the agony and the, well, extra helping of agony that parenthood often feels like is all hers.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 10 Oct. 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 25 Oct. 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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