anguished

1 of 2

adjective

an·​guished ˈaŋ-gwisht 

1

: suffering anguish : tormented

the anguished martyrs

2

: expressing anguish : agonized

anguished cries

anguished

2 of 2

past tense and past participle of anguish entry 2

Synonyms of anguished

Adjective

• weeping
• mournful
• heartbroken
• funeral
• grieving
• wailing
• bitter
• agonized

Examples of anguished in a Sentence

Adjective

the military's explanation of the accident did nothing to console the anguished widow

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The courtroom was filled with anguished coaches, teammates, friends and family. — Jennifer McLogan, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026

By the end of the month, the tone of Rivas Hernandez’s messages had grown more anguished. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 5 Aug. 2026

The creator of vivid, indelible fantasies for women to try on and to embody was also a fragile and anguished man, troubled throughout his life by alcohol, drug dependency, and bouts of debilitating depression. — Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2026

Drew Bos, last seen at OPFT as Romeo’s buddy Benvolio in 2024, stars as the Danish prince whose visions of his late father (Charls Sedgwick Hall) prompt an anguished internal reckoning over his bitter desire for revenge and suicidal thoughts. — Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 9 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English anguysched, from past participle of anguischen "to anguish entry 2"

First Known Use

Adjective

1570, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for anguished

• languished