anguish
Americannoun
verb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
noun
verb
Related Words
See pain.
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.
Vocabulary lists containing anguish
The Hate U Give
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Esperanza Rising
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"Of Mice and Men"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The expectation was No 10's next appointment with Mandelson related anguish would be the next deluge of documents Parliament has demanded and which are expected to be published soon.
From BBC • Apr. 17, 2026
If he endured personal anguish after the failure of his first marriage or the self-immolation of legacy journalism, we get no hint of it.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026
Within the first 72 hours of a 26-day game, “Survivor 50,” featuring 24 veteran players, had already delivered feuding, anguish and heartbreak.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2026
His death reminded her of her mother's anguish when Jallad's brother was killed decades earlier.
From Barron's • Mar. 16, 2026
“My brother happened here!” he says, with so much anguish in his eyes, I have to look away.
From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
