anguish

[ang-gwish]

noun

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

   the anguish of grief.

   Synonyms: torture, torment, agony
   Antonyms: relief, comfort, delight

verb (used with object)

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

verb (used without object)

1. to suffer, feel, or exhibit anguish.

   to anguish over the loss of a loved one.

anguish

/ ˈæŋɡwɪʃ /

noun

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

verb

1. to afflict or be afflicted with anguish

Word History and Origins

Origin of anguish¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of anguish¹

C13: from Old French angoisse a strangling, from Latin angustia narrowness, from angustus narrow

Synonym Study

See pain.

Example Sentences

"The family of Cheryl Grimmer have been through so much anguish over such a long period of time," he said.

Read more on BBC

Sometimes, it feels like he’s the unofficial patron saint of art suffering, fixated on the glory and anguish of putting yourself out there in the world.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“No one has to go through this anguish and hopelessness and fear,” Moody said Wednesday on the ninth anniversary of his wife’s disappearance.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

They can now share their anguish without risking their lives.

Read more on BBC

True, the major soliloquies are not the tortured revelations of a soul in anguish but merely philosophical ruminations; it seems unlikely that this spirited man would opt for self-slaughter.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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