noun

anguish

ANG-gwihsh

noun

Severe mental or physical suffering, often caused by grief, loss, or distress.

"The family was in anguish after hearing the news."

"She wrote about her anguish following the divorce."

verb

To suffer or cause severe mental distress.

"He anguished over the decision for weeks before choosing."

How to Use Anguish

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishIntense emotional or physical pain, usually from grief or a hard situation.

Easily confused with

anger → angst →

Common pairings

cry out in anguish anguish over a decision

anguished past tense, anguishes plural, anguishes singular

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The family was in _____ after hearing the news.

From Old French angoisse, from Latin angustia ("narrowness, distress"), from angere ("to strangle, cause pain").

bluish squish vanquish languish relinquish extinguish distinguish