anguished

adjective

an·​guished ˈaŋ-gwisht How to pronounce anguished (audio)
1
: suffering anguish : tormented
the anguished martyrs
2
: expressing anguish : agonized
anguished cries

Examples of anguished in a Sentence

the military's explanation of the accident did nothing to console the anguished widow
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
His icy, anguished eyes—though both are the same color—convey all the torment a misfit on Earth might feel. Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 30 Aug. 2025 His anguished mother insisted on an open-casket ceremony to show the world the gruesome cruelty of lynching. Lorenzino Estrada, AZCentral.com, 29 Aug. 2025 For the song’s second half, Alabama Shakes follow a thumping bridge into an extended psych-soul outro, Howard’s voice and the guitars wailing in the same anguished register. Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 29 Aug. 2025 The gunshots and anguished cries come from a video playing on McLeod’s phone. Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for anguished

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1570, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of anguished was in 1570

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Cite this Entry

“Anguished.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anguished. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

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