Cool MateAgonize vs Distress vs Struggle vs Torture vs Worry
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
Torture
FormalTop 2,000 (common)C1noun
Worry
Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb
Most formal: Torture
| Agonize | Distress | Struggle | Torture | Worry | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ˈæɡənaɪz//🇺🇸 //ˈæɡənaɪz// | 🇬🇧 //dɪsˈtrɛs//🇺🇸 //dɪsˈtrɛs// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈstrʌɡl/","/ˈstrʌɡlz/","/ˈstrʌɡld/","/ˈstrʌɡlɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈstrʌɡl/","/ˈstrʌɡlz/","/ˈstrʌɡld/","/ˈstrʌɡlɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈtɔːtʃə(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈtɔːrtʃər/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈwʌri/","/ˈwʌriz/","/ˈwʌrid/","/ˈwʌriɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈwɜːri/","/ˈwɜːriz/","/ˈwɜːrid/","/ˈwɜːriɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | To suffer a lot of pain or worry. | Great worry or suffering. | To try hard to do something difficult. | To cause severe pain to someone. | To feel uneasy or anxious about something. |
| 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 of the refugees have suffered torture. | I tend to worry about my exams every time. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Formal | Neutral |
| How common | Top 3,000 (common) | Beyond 10,000 (less common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | C1 | B2 | C1 | A2 |
| Part of speech | noun | verb | noun | verb | |
| 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 | brutal, systematic, mental, inflict, endure, suffer, camp, chamber, room, brutal, systematic, mental, inflict, endure, suffer, camp, chamber, room | a lot, particularly, really, not let something, not need to, begin to, about, for, with, can’t help worrying, enough to worry about, nothing to worry about, a lot, particularly, really, not let something, not need to, begin to, about, for, with, can’t help worrying, enough to worry about, nothing to worry about, a lot, particularly, really, not let something, not need to, begin to, about, for, with, can’t help worrying, enough to worry about, nothing to worry about |
| Antonyms | relax, ease, calm | comfort, relief, ease | succeed, flourish, thrive | relief, comfort | calm, relax, dismiss |
| 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. | Confusing with 'torment', which is less severe., Using 'torture' in non-physical contexts too broadly., Mispronouncing the second syllable. | Confused with 'worry' vs 'care' — 'worry' implies anxiety., Incorrectly use 'worrying' as a noun instead of a verb., Using 'worry' without an object, e.g., 'I worry' should be followed by 'about something.' |
| 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. | Typically used in legal or humanitarian contexts. Avoid using in casual conversation as it may be too intense or graphic for light topics. | Use 'worry' for general concerns. It's neutral but can sound weak in more serious contexts. Avoid in professional settings unless discussing stress. |
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Frequently asked questions: Agonize vs Distress vs Struggle vs Torture vs Worry
What's the difference between Agonize, Distress, Struggle, Torture, and Worry?
Agonize: To suffer a lot of pain or worry. Distress: Great worry or suffering. Struggle: To try hard to do something difficult. Torture: To cause severe pain to someone. Worry: To feel uneasy or anxious about something.
Which is more formal: Agonize, Distress, Struggle, Torture, and Worry?
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. Torture: Many of the refugees have suffered torture. Worry: I tend to worry about my exams every time.
Can I use Agonize, Distress, Struggle, Torture, and Worry interchangeably?
Not always. Agonize, Distress, Struggle, Torture, and Worry 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.