- a condition of violent pangs, pain, or convulsions: death throes
- in the throes of ⇒ struggling with great effort with
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
throes /θrəʊz/ pl n
throe /θroʊ/USA pronunciation
n.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- [countable]
- Pathologya violent spasm.
- throes, [plural]
- any violent struggle:a country in the throes of a rebellion.
- the agony of death:in death throes.
throe
(thrō),USA pronunciation n.
- Pathologya violent spasm or pang;
paroxysm. - a sharp attack of emotion.
- throes:
- any violent convulsion or struggle:the throes of battle.
- the agony of death.
- Pathologythe pains of childbirth.
- 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)
- 3. a. upheaval, tumult, chaos, turmoil.
'throes' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):