throe

noun
throe \ ˈthrō \
13th century{ds||1||}
  • pang, spasm
  • a hard or painful struggle

death throes

noun
death throes \
  • the violent movements and noises that are sometimes made by a person who is about to die —often used figuratively

in the throes of

idiom
in the throes of \
  • experiencing (something painful)
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