What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
pain
Example
She felt a sharp pain in her ankle after twisting it. [pain: noun]
Example
He was in pain after the surgery and needed medication to manage it. [pain: noun]
Example
My back is in pain after lifting those heavy boxes. [pain: noun]
agony
Example
The patient was writhing in agony from the burns. [agony: noun]
Example
She suffered the agony of losing her child to cancer. [agony: noun]
Example
He felt the agony of defeat after losing the championship game. [agony: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Pain is a more common word than agony and is used in a wider range of contexts. Agony is a more dramatic and intense word that is typically reserved for more severe forms of suffering.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between pain and agony?
Agony is a more formal and dramatic word than pain, which can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
