pang

noun \ ˈpaŋ \

Updated on: 10 May 2018

Definition of pang

1 : a brief piercing spasm of pain

the pangs of childbirth

2 : a sharp attack of mental anguish

pangs of remorse

a pang of guilt

a pang of disappointment

See pang defined for English-language learners

See pang defined for kids

Examples of pang in a Sentence

those hunger pangs that strike you in the middle of the afternoon

Recent Examples of pang from the Web

So there are real pangs of grief leaving the material twice.

— aidin vaziri, San Francisco Chronicle, "Pop Quiz: New Order’s Peter Hook on the chemistry that makes and breaks great bands," 2 May 2018
Research says the minty multi-tasker can give your workouts an extra push, boost alertness, calm road rage, and even silence hunger pangs.

— Sunset, "Your Guide To Essential Oils," 22 Jan. 2018
But one smaller, more frivolous piece of her argument hit me with a pang of sad familiarity: the Over-Corrective Post-Breakup Rules — vows made after a nasty breakup to never fall for anyone of the most recent ex’s particular type again.

— ashley fetters, The Cut, "The Temptation of Over-Corrective Post-Breakup Rules," 4 Apr. 2018
Plenty of us are content simply to keep the door open for friends and family (and hundreds of otherwise forgettable acquaintances, no offense)—even if merely to stave off pangs of FOMO, or fear of missing out.

— robert hackett, Fortune, "Cyber Saturday—The Case For and Against #DeleteFacebook," 24 Mar. 2018
Although Ted appears to be plagued by some guilt, any real pangs of conscience primarily reside with his aides, his cousin Joe Gargan (Ed Helms) and Paul Markham (Jim Gaffigan), to whom Kennedy went before approaching the local authorities.

— brian lowry, CNN, "'Chappaquiddick' brings heavy hand to Kennedy scandal," 4 Apr. 2018
O’Brien at first felt a pang of gratitude toward the RMV.

— sean p. murphy, BostonGlobe.com, "RMV letter offered convenience but led some drivers to miss out on Real ID," 2 Apr. 2018
The Duncans, who lived in the Dayton area, were representative of most other families of the time who experienced the pangs of separation during the war.

— community report, Houston Chronicle, "Dayton historians learn about life of Confederate captain," 2 Apr. 2018
And the prices being asked and paid have prompted the few pangs of hesitation in people such as Wilson, the soul food restaurant co-owner, who is black.

— robert king, Indianapolis Star, "50 years later, site of Robert Kennedy’s MLK speech begins to show their dream," 1 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pang.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of pang

origin unknown

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

pang Synonyms

Synonyms

ache, pain, prick, shoot, smart, sting, stitch, throe, tingle, twinge;

Near Antonyms

comfort, ease, easiness;

affliction, agony, anguish, misery, sufferance, suffering, torment, torture;

inflammation, sore, swelling;

damage, detriment, harm, hurt, injury;

backache, bellyache, charley horse, colic, complaint, earache, gripe, headache, stomachache, toothache;

pang

verb

Definition of pang

transitive verb

: to cause to have pangs : torment

Recent Examples of pang from the Web

Its sonic trappings are in vogue, but thanks in large part to front-woman Fox Rodemich’s memorable voice, which pangs around the record like a cave bellow, there’s an outlying classic quality to these songs.

— dylan owens, The Know, "The week in local albums: Shady Elders, Otis Taylor and Gasoline Lollipops," 16 Feb. 2017

First Known Use of pang

1502

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

PANG Defined for English Language Learners

pang

noun

Definition of pang for English Language Learners

: a sudden, strong feeling of physical or emotional pain

PANG Defined for Kids

pang

noun \ ˈpaŋ \

Definition of pang for Students

: a sudden sharp feeling of physical pain or emotion

hunger pangs

a pang or guilt

Medical Dictionary

pang

noun \ ˈpaŋ \

medical Definition of pang

: a brief piercing spasm of pain — see birth pang, hunger pangs

Learn More about pang

See words that rhyme with pang Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for pang Spanish Central: Translation of pang Nglish: Translation of pang for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of pang for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up pang? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

pang

Definition of pang

Examples of pang in a Sentence

Recent Examples of pang from the Web

Origin and Etymology of pang

pang Synonyms

Synonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

pang

Definition of pang

Recent Examples of pang from the Web

First Known Use of pang

PANG Defined for English Language Learners

pang

Definition of pang for English Language Learners

PANG Defined for Kids

pang

Definition of pang for Students

Medical Dictionary

pang

medical Definition of pang

Learn More about pang

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

9 Words from the Magical Realm

A Field Guide to British Noble Titles

Words Used by Nabokov Quiz

Trending: Melania Trump Undergoes 'Embolization'

Ghost Word