cry in agony

USAGE SUMMARY

A sentence with the phrase 'cry in agony' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing a person who is in great distress or pain. Example: She let out a loud moan and then began to cry in agony.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

To observe the tradition properly, the elder went to the window herself and cried out in the required loud, heart-rending voice, as an eagle might cry in agony when pierced with an arrow.

The New Yorker

Mute reminds me of a guy named Scott, with his tricycle and tighty-whities, who rides a bike down a shaky half-pipe, laughing over a pit of fire-breathing alligators, only to cry in agony as he crushes his balls on the landing.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

I fell over and cried in agony.

The New York Times

It was a breech birth, however, and the woman started crying in agony.

The New York Times - Books

Last night, the pain became so severe she was crying in agony.

Independent

And as it descended, thousands of voices in the Madison Square Garden crowd cried in agony.

The New York Times - Sports

"My neighbor said she heard screaming for two days straight, like the baby was crying in agony," Ms. Melendez said.

The New York Times

For the preceding two weeks, a series of mysterious spasms in her leg had left her increasingly paralysed, crying in agony at the slightest movement.

The Guardian - Opinion

If a player screamed and cried in agony at a nonexistent injury in an American sport like mixed martial arts, baseball or football, his reputation would be severely damaged.

The New York Times

Under the instructions of an authority-figure, Milgram's students were prepared to administer painful electric shocks as a penalty for poor memory: two-thirds of them increased the voltage to lethal levels as their "subjects" cried in agony.

The Guardian - Opinion

We agreed that we'd rather know, and almost immediately my girlfriend was lying on a bed and crying in agony because a huge syringe had been plunged through her stomach into her womb.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "cry in agony" to vividly depict situations involving extreme physical or emotional pain, enhancing the reader's understanding of the character's suffering. For example, "After falling from the cliff, he lay on the ground and began to cry in agony."

Common error

Avoid using "cry in agony" too frequently or in situations that don't warrant such intense expression, as it can diminish the impact and make the writing seem overly dramatic. Reserve it for moments of truly profound suffering.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cry in agony" functions as a verbal phrase that describes an action (crying) performed under extreme duress. The noun "agony" modifies the verb "cry", specifying the intensity and nature of the crying. As Ludwig AI pointed out, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "cry in agony" is a grammatically correct and usable expression for describing intense suffering, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. Although it is not a very common phrase, its use is appropriate across a range of contexts, as reported in neutral media sources. While mostly appearing in the "News & Media" context, its function is to vividly depict situations of extreme physical or emotional pain. When employing this phrase, remember to reserve it for moments of profound suffering to avoid diluting its impact. Consider alternatives like "scream in torment" or "wail in anguish" for nuanced expression. By following these guidelines, writers can use "cry in agony" effectively to convey the depth of a character's or a situation's distress.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

scream in torment

Replaces "cry" with "scream" and "agony" with "torment", intensifying the expression of pain.

wail in anguish

Replaces "cry" with "wail" and "agony" with "anguish", emphasizing a prolonged and sorrowful expression of pain.

shriek in pain

Uses "shriek" to depict a sharp, piercing cry, emphasizing sudden and intense pain.

weep in despair

Substitutes "cry" with "weep" and "agony" with "despair", shifting the focus to emotional distress.

yell out in pain

Replaces "cry" with "yell out", suggesting a louder, more forceful expression of agony.

sob uncontrollably in pain

Replaces "cry" and "agony" with a more descriptive phrase, highlighting the lack of control and the physical sensation.

groan in excruciating pain

Shifts from crying to groaning, emphasizing the intensity of the physical pain experienced.

lament in suffering

Substitutes "cry" with "lament" and "agony" with "suffering", giving a more formal and sorrowful tone.

moan in deep suffering

Replaces "cry" with "moan" to describe a lower, more subdued sound of pain, and "agony" with "deep suffering".

cry out in distress

Replaces "agony" with "distress", broadening the expression to include emotional and mental suffering.

FAQs

How can I use "cry in agony" in a sentence?

Use "cry in agony" to describe a situation where someone is experiencing intense physical or emotional pain. For example: "The wounded soldier began to cry in agony after being hit by shrapnel".

What phrases are similar to "cry in agony"?

Similar phrases include "scream in torment", "wail in anguish", or "sob uncontrollably in pain", all of which convey intense suffering.

Is it ever inappropriate to use the phrase "cry in agony"?

While grammatically correct, avoid using "cry in agony" in contexts that do not genuinely reflect extreme pain or suffering. Overusing the phrase can diminish its impact and make the writing seem melodramatic.

What's the difference between "cry in agony" and "cry in pain"?

"Cry in agony" suggests a more intense and prolonged suffering than "cry in pain". Agony implies a deeper level of distress.