Cool MateHe's in agony vs Torment
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
He's in agony
Top 3,000 (common)
Torment
Top 5,000 (fairly common)B1noun
Most common: He's in agony
| He's in agony | Torment | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ˈæɡəni//🇺🇸 //ˈæɡəni// | 🇬🇧 //ˈtɔː.mɛnt//🇺🇸 //ˈtɔːr.mɛnt// |
| Meaning | He is in great pain. | extreme pain or suffering |
| Example | After the accident, he's in agony and needs immediate help. | The constant criticism was a source of great torment for her. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 3,000 (common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| CEFR level | - | B1 |
| Part of speech | noun | |
| Collocations | in physical agony, in emotional agony, crying in agony, feel agony, express agony | mental torment, physical torment, torture and torment, live in torment, feel torment |
| Antonyms | - | comfort, relief, pleasure |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'ecstasy' which is an intense joy, not pain., Omitting 'in' and saying 'He's agony' instead., 'Agony' is often misused to describe minor discomfort. | Confusing 'torment' with 'torture' – 'torture' has a stronger, more physical connotation., Using 'torment' in sentences without the right context, especially in casual settings., Mispronouncing the word, leading to misunderstandings. |
| Usage notes | Used to express intense physical or emotional pain. Appropriate in both casual and serious contexts but avoid exaggeration in light-hearted conversations. | Use 'torment' to describe severe emotional or physical suffering. It's neutral, suitable for both written and spoken contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: He's in agony vs Torment
What's the difference between He's in agony and Torment?
He's in agony: He is in great pain. Torment: extreme pain or suffering
Which is more common: He's in agony and Torment?
He's in agony is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
He's in agony: After the accident, he's in agony and needs immediate help. Torment: The constant criticism was a source of great torment for her.
Can I use He's in agony and Torment interchangeably?
Not always. He's in agony and Torment 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.