Cool MateAgonize vs Distress vs Struggle vs Suffer vs Torture
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Agonize
Top 3,000 (common)
Distress
Beyond 10,000 (less common)C1noun
Struggle
Top 1,000 (very common)B2verb
Suffer
Top 1,000 (very common)B1verb
Torture
FormalTop 2,000 (common)C1noun
Most formal: Torture
| Agonize | Distress | Struggle | Suffer | Torture | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ˈæɡənaɪz//🇺🇸 //ˈæɡənaɪz// | 🇬🇧 //dɪsˈtrɛs//🇺🇸 //dɪsˈtrɛs// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈstrʌɡl/","/ˈstrʌɡlz/","/ˈstrʌɡld/","/ˈstrʌɡlɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈstrʌɡl/","/ˈstrʌɡlz/","/ˈstrʌɡld/","/ˈstrʌɡlɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈsʌfə(r)/","/ˈsʌfəz/","/ˈsʌfəd/","/ˈsʌfərɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈsʌfər/","/ˈsʌfərz/","/ˈsʌfərd/","/ˈsʌfərɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈtɔːtʃə(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈtɔːrtʃər/"]/ |
| Meaning | To suffer a lot of pain or worry. | Great worry or suffering. | To try hard to do something difficult. | to feel pain or distress | To cause severe pain to someone. |
| Example | She began to agonize over the decision to move to another city. | The news caused her great distress. | She had to struggle through the difficult exam to pass her class. | Many people suffer from anxiety and depression. | Many of the refugees have suffered torture. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Formal |
| How common | Top 3,000 (common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | - | C1 | B2 | B1 | C1 |
| Part of speech | noun | verb | verb | noun | |
| Collocations | agonize over a decision, agonize about a problem, agonize over loss, agonize in pain, agonize for hours | emotional distress, signs of distress, in distress, cause distress, face distress | desperately, hard, manfully, have to, against, along, down, struggle to your feet, badly, really, clearly, through, with, struggle to make ends meet, fiercely, furiously, violently, against, with, struggle free | a lot, badly, enormously, be likely to, tend to, continue to, for, from, under, suffer in silence, a lot, badly, enormously, be likely to, tend to, continue to, for, from, under, suffer in silence | brutal, systematic, mental, inflict, endure, suffer, camp, chamber, room, brutal, systematic, mental, inflict, endure, suffer, camp, chamber, room |
| Antonyms | relax, ease, calm | comfort, relief, ease | succeed, flourish, thrive | enjoy, thrive, prosper | relief, comfort |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'agonizing', which is the adjective form., Using 'agonize' in past tense incorrectly as 'agonized' in all contexts, forgetting to attach an object., Mixing up 'agonize' with similar words like 'worry' without understanding the intensity difference. | Confused with 'stress' - 'distress' is more intense and negative., Used incorrectly in the plural form - 'distress' is usually uncountable., Misinterpreted as physical pain - it primarily refers to emotional suffering. | 'Struggled' vs 'struggles' confusion - using the wrong tense., Omitting 'to' when saying what one struggles to do., 'Struggles with' is sometimes mistakenly used with objects instead of actions. | "Suffer with" instead of "suffer from", Using 'suffer' without a specific condition, Mixing up 'suffer' with 'sufferer' as a verb | Confusing with 'torment', which is less severe., Using 'torture' in non-physical contexts too broadly., Mispronouncing the second syllable. |
| Usage notes | Use 'agonize' when discussing intense emotional or physical struggle. It's appropriate in both casual and serious contexts, but avoid it for lighthearted situations. | Use 'distress' to describe emotional pain or anxiety. Avoid informal contexts; 'distress' fits well in psychological or medical discussions. | Use 'struggle' when discussing challenges or difficulties, both physically and mentally. It's appropriate in most contexts, from casual conversations to more serious discussions about issues. | Used when someone is experiencing pain or hardship. Avoid in casual contexts where lighter terms are appropriate. | Typically used in legal or humanitarian contexts. Avoid using in casual conversation as it may be too intense or graphic for light topics. |
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Frequently asked questions: Agonize vs Distress vs Struggle vs Suffer vs Torture
What's the difference between Agonize, Distress, Struggle, Suffer, and Torture?
Agonize: To suffer a lot of pain or worry. Distress: Great worry or suffering. Struggle: To try hard to do something difficult. Suffer: to feel pain or distress Torture: To cause severe pain to someone.
Which is more formal: Agonize, Distress, Struggle, Suffer, and Torture?
Torture is the most formal of these.
Can you show an example of each?
Agonize: She began to agonize over the decision to move to another city. Distress: The news caused her great distress. Struggle: She had to struggle through the difficult exam to pass her class. Suffer: Many people suffer from anxiety and depression. Torture: Many of the refugees have suffered torture.
Can I use Agonize, Distress, Struggle, Suffer, and Torture interchangeably?
Not always. Agonize, Distress, Struggle, Suffer, and Torture are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.