Agony-stricken

Describing someone or something overwhelmed and severely affected by intense physical or mental suffering; deeply distressed and tormented by pain or anguish. This state often manifests in visible signs of distress, such as facial contortions, groaning, and withdrawal, or in the case of emotional pain, through profound sadness, despair, and a sense of helplessness. It implies a prolonged or severe experience of suffering, potentially incapacitating the individual or entity experiencing it. The term emphasizes the depth and pervasiveness of the suffering, encompassing both the immediate sensation of pain and its lasting psychological impact.

Agony-stricken meaning with examples

• The soldier, agony-stricken from the shrapnel wound, clutched his leg, his face contorted in a silent scream. He tried to call out for help, but the pain stole his breath, leaving him utterly consumed by the searing agony of the injury.
• Having just learned of her child's passing, she remained agony-stricken, staring blankly ahead, the world around her fading into insignificance. The depth of her grief was visible in her hollow eyes and the barely perceptible tremble of her lips, unable to comprehend the tragedy.
• The wildfire ravaged the forest, leaving the agony-stricken wildlife fleeing for their lives. Scorched and traumatized, the surviving creatures wandered aimlessly, victims of the destructive blaze and their own physical and emotional turmoil.
• Trapped underground after the cave-in, the miners were agony-stricken, enduring the darkness, lack of oxygen and the ever present fear of final entombment. Their hope was dwindling, replaced by the desperation of impending suffocation and injuries sustained in the collapse.