1
as in distress
a state of great suffering of body or mind
as a new teacher, she was in real anguish over the decision to report the cheating
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2
as in sorrow
deep sadness especially for the loss of someone or something loved
words can't express my anguish at losing my cat
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1
as in to plague
to cause persistent suffering to
she was anguished by the fear that her sons would die in the war
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2
as in to grieve
to feel deep sadness or mental pain
I anguished over the loss of my father for years afterwards
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of anguish
Clayton Davis, Variety, 21 Apr. 2025
In anguish, the woman wept, asking the heavens why mother and daughter were fated to be separated.
—Karissa Chen, People.com, 26 Apr. 2025
The Editors, National Review, 16 Dec. 2024
Trump has won voters who once voted for FDR, and Democrats will anguish over how to get them back without alienating the other parts of their coalition, including women, young people and people of color.
—Paul Rogers, The Mercury News, 5 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for anguish
Noun
And then, with the broken, sharp point of the same club, Abby stabs him in the neck as his surrogate daughter Ellie (Bella Ramsey) watches in anguish.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 21 Apr. 2025
In anguish, the woman wept, asking the heavens why mother and daughter were fated to be separated.
—Karissa Chen, People.com, 26 Apr. 2025
Verb
Abraham Lincoln hated the death penalty and anguished over every case in which he was asked to commute it.
—The Editors, National Review, 16 Dec. 2024
Trump has won voters who once voted for FDR, and Democrats will anguish over how to get them back without alienating the other parts of their coalition, including women, young people and people of color.
—Paul Rogers, The Mercury News, 5 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for anguish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anguish
Noun
-
Recorded woodpecker distress calls or raptor calls can also repel the birds.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
16 May 2025
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The 17-year-old’s lawsuit seeks more than $250,000 in damages and demands a jury trial on claims of negligent infliction of emotional distress, state and federal RICO violations and more.—
Julia Marnin,
Miami Herald,
15 May 2025
Noun
-
The wind of sorrows is so violent today and sweeps up the weakest — the hostages of October 7 and all the hostages — the prisoners, the drowned, who endure terror and die in a terrible feeling of abandonment and indifference.—
Rachel Handler,
Vulture,
13 May 2025
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Her words pierced through the haze of sorrow and became an enduring truth.—
Carissa Talmage,
People.com,
2 May 2025
Verb
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But travel remains plagued by inefficiencies with disconnected booking systems, delays without real-time resolution and reliance on legacy infrastructure and software that slow rather than facilitate the journey.—
Omry Litvak,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2025
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To top it off, an air traffic control meltdown plagued Newark Liberty International Airport for weeks after staffing shortages and technology outages caused hours-long delays.—
Alexandra Skores,
CNN Money,
23 May 2025
Verb
-
Set in the near future after Ukraine has emerged victorious in its war with Russia, the film follows a philosophy professor grieving the death of his wife whose life is upended when the ancient Greek gods return to Earth.—
Christopher Vourlias,
Variety,
18 May 2025
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Beneath the bondage and demands, there’s genuine caring between Ray and Colin, like when the former assembles his crew to celebrate the latter’s birthday, or when Ray helps a grieving Colin collect himself.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
18 May 2025
Noun
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At this point in the narrative, when Mike is sentenced to 14 months jail time, more conventional addiction dramas would dig into the trauma of incarceration and the agony of substance withdrawal.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
17 May 2025
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One young man described the particular agony of being placed carelessly in a wheelchair and forced to sit for hours atop his testicles.—
Sarah Zhang,
The Atlantic,
16 May 2025
Noun
-
Stitt's family and friends attended the sentencing, expressing their grief and emphasizing that she has never been forgotten.—
Phaedra Trethan,
USA Today,
14 May 2025
-
Clients often bring their full selves—grief, joy, fear, confidence.—
Akili King,
Essence,
14 May 2025
Verb
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Some of the journalists who were terminated on Thursday were from countries with repressive governments that persecute journalists for independent reporting, Mr. Abramowitz said in the email to employees on Thursday.—
Minho Kim,
New York Times,
16 May 2025
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According to tradition, Peter traveled to Rome to spread the Christian message and was martyred there during the reign of the Emperor Nero, around 64 A.D., as Christians were being persecuted.—
Vanessa Gera,
Chicago Tribune,
8 May 2025
Verb
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The light turned from orange to dull gray, and then Joe nudged my aching ribs — the tiger was standing in a glade 60 yards downhill.—
Cyril E. Holland,
Outdoor Life,
8 May 2025
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Hartnett deserves a medal for doing some of his acrobatic stunts (your back will ache watching him and stunt performers athletically bouncing about) as do the sound designers who make each smack, punch and crunch sound so real.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
7 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Anguish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anguish. Accessed 27 May. 2025.
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