Cool MateAgony vs Pain
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Agony
Top 3,000 (common)
Pain
Top 1,000 (very common)A2noun
Most common: Pain
| Agony | Pain | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ˈæɡəni//🇺🇸 //ˈæɡəni// | 🇬🇧 /["/peɪn/"]/🇺🇸 /["/peɪn/"]/ |
| Meaning | Very severe pain or suffering. | unpleasant feeling or discomfort in the body |
| Example | He screamed in agony after breaking his leg. | She felt a sharp pain in her knee after the fall. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 3,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | A2 |
| Part of speech | noun | |
| Collocations | in agony, agony of defeat, silent agony, emotional agony, physical agony | acute, agonizing, awful, spasm, stab, be in, be racked with, experience, begin, come, occur, control, management, relief, pain in, aches and pains, a cry of pain, a threshold for pain, great, immense, intense, cause (somebody), give somebody, inflict, the pain etched on somebody’s face |
| Antonyms | comfort, ease, relief | pleasure, comfort, well-being |
| Common mistakes | Confusing 'agony' with 'anguish' - while similar, 'anguish' often refers to emotional suffering., Using 'agony' for minor discomfort - it's reserved for significant pain., Mixing up 'agony' with 'gloom' - 'gloom' refers to sadness, not pain. | Confused with 'gain', often misspoke as 'pain' when meaning something positive., Using inappropriately in casual contexts, like joking about serious conditions., Mixing up with 'ache', which denotes a less intense sensation. |
| Usage notes | Used in both formal and informal contexts, often to describe extreme physical or emotional pain. Avoid in casual conversation unless discussing intense feelings. | Used in both formal and informal contexts. Avoid using it lightly; can be serious when discussing medical issues. |
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Frequently asked questions: Agony vs Pain
What's the difference between Agony and Pain?
Agony: Very severe pain or suffering. Pain: unpleasant feeling or discomfort in the body
Which is more common: Agony and Pain?
Pain is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Agony: He screamed in agony after breaking his leg. Pain: She felt a sharp pain in her knee after the fall.
Can I use Agony and Pain interchangeably?
Not always. Agony and Pain 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.