throe

noun

1
: pang, spasm
death throes
throes of childbirth
2
throes plural : a hard or painful struggle
the throes of revolutionary social changeM. D. Geismar

Examples of throe in a Sentence

collapsed in the throes of agony that third-world country is caught up in the throes of a democratic revolution
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
A little more than five years ago, audiences at St. Ann’s Warehouse eyed each other across a long, sparse playing space, its neutral brown evoking the rolling plains and dusty mainstreets of an America in the final throes of westward expansion. Sara Holdren, Vulture, 18 June 2024 In Smile 2, now in theaters, Naomi Scott delivers a star-making performance as Skye Riley, a global pop sensation about to embark on a new world tour who finds herself in the hellish throes of both these phenomena over the course of one unending nightmare of a week. Megan McCluskey, TIME, 18 Oct. 2024 Arrogantly rueful, Hartnett’s vicious killer has a flair for the dramatic, revealing, in the film’s final throes, to lead a semi-charmed kinda life. Nicholas Bell, SPIN, 4 Sep. 2024 The fact that neither Hezbollah nor the Lebanese authorities have called this a war is little consolation for those in throes of bombardment and mass displacement. Christian Edwards, CNN, 25 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for throe 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English thrawe, throwe, from Old English thrawu, thrēa threat, pang; akin to Old High German drawa threat

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of throe was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near throe

Cite this Entry

“Throe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/throe. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

throe

noun
1
: pang
death throes
throes of childbirth
2
plural : a hard or painful struggle
a state in the throes of revolution

Medical Definition

throe

noun
: pang, spasm
usually used in plural
death throes
throes of childbirth

More from Merriam-Webster on throe

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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