Agony is a word used to define a feeling of anguish, suffering or affliction. It can also mean a state of anxiety and hurry or the feeling of discomfort caused by facing an unpleasant situation.
The word is a feminine noun originating from the Greek term agony, which means the period before death. It is also derived from the Latin agony which has the meaning of anxiety.
Some people confuse the spelling of the word with "agunia". The correct way to spell the term is agony.
They are synonymous with agony: anxiety, restlessness, anguish, disturbance, torment, inconstancy and collapse. On the other hand, the antonyms of the word are: tranquility, patience, serenity, calm and stillness.
At medicine the term agony is used to refer to an acute pain or the moment before someone's death (agonize). It also means the set of events that precede death, such as wheezing and decreased vital functions. The medical term used to define pre-death agony is rales.
Agony can also be used to refer to a specific melody played by a bell to announce someone's death.
The word can be used in a sense figured with the meaning of something that is in decline or nearing its end.
Example: We are close to the agony of drinking water.
See also the meanings of anxiety, Anxious and Anguish.