1. Plural of agon; intense struggles or contests, especially in ancient Greek drama or athletics.
Usage: literary; historical; often used in classical studies
2. In ancient Greek drama, formal debate or conflict scenes between characters.
Usage: literary; classical

Examples

• The agones in Greek tragedy often featured two characters in heated debate.
• Ancient Olympic agones tested the strength and skill of athletes from across Greece.
• Scholars study the agones of Sophocles' plays to understand dramatic structure.
• The playwright used agones to heighten tension between opposing forces.
• Athletic agones were central to Greek culture and religious festivals.