Refers to intense mental or emotional suffering, often with a sense of writhing or inner turmoil. Commonly used in literary or expressive contexts.
There was deep agony in his heart.
The poem depicts the anguish of a broken heart.
writhing in agony
Standard kanji spelling for this noun.
Kana spelling is common in everyday writing, especially when the kanji is not essential.
Derived from the verb 悶える (もだえる, 'to writhe in agony'). The noun form 悶え nominalizes the verb stem, carrying the same intense emotional connotation.