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

Inflected Forms

Participles

• anguishing
  present
• anguished
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• anguish
  simple
• anguishes
  simple
• have anguished
  perfect
• has anguished
  perfect
• am anguishing
  progressive
• are anguishing
  progressive
• is anguishing
  progressive
• have been anguishing
  perfect progressive
• has been anguishing
  perfect progressive

Past

• anguished
  simple
• had anguished
  perfect
• was anguishing
  progressive
• were anguishing
  progressive
• had been anguishing
  perfect progressive

Future

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

Under the blazing sun, dozens of families wait with a mixture of anguish and dread.

From BBC • Jul. 3, 2026

Her anguish is shared outside morgues as well as in hospitals, where photos of missing persons are plastered on walls and utility poles, written on handwritten pieces of paper.

From Barron's • Jun. 30, 2026

The case, which concluded last week in a conviction for first-degree murder, has generated exactly the sort of fierce debate, outrage, celebration, and anguish that high-profile criminal trials often produce.

From Slate • Jun. 17, 2026

The couple allege that they suffered smoke inhalation injuries, emotional distress and mental anguish as a result of the fire, which destroyed their Malibu home, according to the complaint.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 11, 2026

Ophie asked, captivated by the naked anguish on Richard’s face.

From "Ophie's Ghosts" by Justina Ireland

Related Words

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