anguished

adjective

an·​guished ˈaŋ-gwisht 

1

: suffering anguish : tormented

the anguished martyrs

2

: expressing anguish : agonized

anguished cries

Synonyms of anguished

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

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

What is unquestionable is that like millions of other anguished parents, Rob and Michele struggled with how to help their troubled son. —Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 20 Dec. 2025

When Hank is in custody and being loaded onto a bus to Shawshank Prison, he's nearly shot by an anguished parent. —Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Dec. 2025

One work that has often intrigued them is The Tragedy of Hamlet (1603), the Bard’s story of an anguished Danish prince who seeks to avenge his father’s death. —Nathan Smith, Time, 26 Nov. 2025

Answers poured in—thoughtful, anguished, perceptive answers that reminded me that there is value in naming the problem, even if nothing, for the moment, can be done to stop it. —Susan B. Glasser, New Yorker, 30 Oct. 2025

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

Rhymes for anguished

• languished