anguish

American  

[ang-gwish] / ˈæŋ gwɪʃ /

noun

1. excruciating or acute distress, suffering, or pain.

   the anguish of grief.

   Synonyms:

   torture, torment, agony

   Antonyms:

   relief, comfort, delight

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verb (used with object)

anguishes, present (3rd person singular) anguished, past participle, past anguishing present participle

1. to inflict with distress, suffering, or pain.

verb (used without object)

anguishes, present (3rd person singular) anguished, past participle, past anguishing present participle

1. to suffer, feel, or exhibit anguish.

   to anguish over the loss of a loved one.

anguish British  

/ ˈæŋɡwɪʃ /

noun

1. extreme pain or misery; mental or physical torture; agony

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verb

1. to afflict or be afflicted with anguish

Synonym Usage

See pain.

Other Word Forms

Conjugated Forms

Present

• have anguished
  perfect
• has anguished
  perfect 3rd person singular
• am anguishing
  progressive 1st person singular
• anguishing
  participle
• is anguishing
  progressive 3rd person singular
• are anguishing
  progressive
• have been anguishing
  perfect progressive
• anguishes
  singular 3rd person
• has been anguishing
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular

Past

• had anguished
  perfect
• were anguishing
  progressive plural
• had been anguishing
  perfect progressive
• was anguishing
  progressive singular
• anguished
  participle
• anguished
  simple

Future

• will anguish
  simple
• will have anguished
  perfect
• will have been anguishing
  perfect progressive
• will be anguishing
  progressive

Etymology

Origin of anguish

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English anguisse, from Old French, from Latin angustia “tight place,” from angust(us) “narrow” + -ia -ia; cf. anxious

Explanation

The noun anguish refers to severe physical or emotional pain or distress. A trip to the dentist might cause a cavity-prone person a lot of anguish. We get this word from a Latin word, angustus, which literally meant "narrow" but developed the figurative sense of "distressed" — think of being choked off or forced into a small space. In modern times anguish has been in the English with the parallel and related meanings of "physical torment" and "emotional suffering." Both kinds might be experienced at the hands of a dentist who likes to make his patients squirm in agony.

Example Sentences

According to the footage, what awaits Rhaenyra during her reign are fearful subjects, conniving enemies, sleepless nights and plenty of anguish.

From Los Angeles Times • May 29, 2026

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland said his thoughts are with the Maguire family, who have "endured so many years of anguish".

From BBC • May 26, 2026

Finding a comfortable, early-career environment can spare you a lot of anguish down the road.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 21, 2026

Or is there a flood of anguish that leaves his position untenable and tempts one of the challengers to go for it?

From BBC • May 10, 2026

But it is the masterstroke of the green spot, shining like a beacon in the middle of her forehead, that conveys the anguish of the girl’s confrontation with her inner self.

From "History of Art, Volume 1" by H.W. Janson

Related Words

• agony
• grief
• heartache
• heartbreak
• misery
• sorrow
• suffering
• torment
• woe