throe
Americannoun
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a violent spasm or pang; paroxysm.
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a sharp attack of emotion.
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throes,
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any violent convulsion or struggle.
the throes of battle.
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the agony of death.
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the pains of childbirth.
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noun
Usage
What does throe mean? The word throe refers to a pain, pang, or spasm, but it is very rarely used.It is almost exclusively used in the plural form throes, which refers to a state or condition of pain or violent convulsions, spasms, or pangs.Throes is especially associated with situations involving physical or emotional pain or agony, as in the throes of childbirth or the throes of grief. It can also be used in the context of a situation that’s an intense struggle, as in the throes of creation or the throes of revolution. The phrase death throes can refer to the agony of dying or it can be used metaphorically to refer to the final stages of something, as in The terrible reviews of his latest book represent the death throes of his career.The word throes is commonly used in the phrase in the throes of, meaning in the midst of something intense, especially a painful situation, a struggle, or a crisis, as in We were in the throes of battle when the reinforcements arrived. It can also be used in less serious situations, as in We were in the throes of a movie marathon when the power went out. Example: When I’m in the throes of the flu, I barely have the energy to get out of bed.
Etymology
Origin of throe
1150–1200; Middle English throwe, alteration of thrawe ( -o- from Old English thrōwian to suffer, be in pain), Old English thrawu; cognate with Old Norse thrā (in līkthrā leprosy)
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Magic didn’t speak because Magic was in the deep throes of terror.
From Literature
You are startled, later, to see the film footage of the tower itself, in its fiery death throes, as it plunged into the cathedral below.
Mr. McDougall argues differently: European civilization hasn’t returned to life but merely eased and extended its death throes.
In the throes of cognitive dissonance, I ignored the vow and fell in love with Renée.
From Los Angeles Times
As she points out, “the ability to continue moving through one’s life even in the throes of depression makes the anguish no less real.”
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
