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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
9 June 2026
The woman is seeking monetary damages in excess of $50,000 for pain and suffering, mental anguish, depression and more, and is requesting a jury trial.
—
Madeleine Marr,
Miami Herald,
9 June 2026
Emma Alpern,
Vulture,
2 Dec. 2025
Insert anguished grimace emoji here.
—
Teri Sforza,
Oc Register,
24 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for anguish
Noun
Week after week, his digits splayed across his helmet in anguish after passes ticked off his hands and into the grass.
—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
9 June 2026
The woman is seeking monetary damages in excess of $50,000 for pain and suffering, mental anguish, depression and more, and is requesting a jury trial.
—
Madeleine Marr,
Miami Herald,
9 June 2026
Verb
There is a mood to these stories, sardonic and anguished in turn, that gets under your skin.
—
Emma Alpern,
Vulture,
2 Dec. 2025
Insert anguished grimace emoji here.
—
Teri Sforza,
Oc Register,
24 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for anguish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anguish
Noun
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The Hoffmans are suing Boelter for assault, battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
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Not to mention smoking hot Hart Bochner as the himbo-in-distress.
Noun
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Parting is such sweet sorrow, but these guys aren’t going gently into the night just yet.
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These silences, heavy with sorrow, then adorn the beloved like precious jewels, conveying the idea that only a profound grief can beget such beauty.
Verb
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Instead, Isaac, 28, will become an unrestricted free agent after nine years in Orlando that were plagued by injury.
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Greenberg tried his best to ignore an irritating ankle injury that had plagued him the last couple of weeks and grimaced under the hazy sunlight as the pitcher, probably 20 or more years his junior, stared him down.
Verb
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Following a career in the federal government, Jackson turned to cooking to grieve the death of his brother.
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The story is constructed around a love connection made when candid voicemails sent by a grieving San Francisco prep cook wind up in the ear of the wrong person — a cute guy in Austin.
Noun
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The agony of Sudan runs deep; its history is crisscrossed with blood.
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Or at least movies about soccer can, engaging with themes of race and gender, ego, hubris, economics, politics, fandom, the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat — as well as, of course, unadulterated athleticism.
Noun
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In all of them, Sugar sees the human spirit persisting through layer upon layer of loneliness, carnage, and grief.
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By the time the credits roll, Kara is forced to confront the grief she's spent years trying to outrun, Ruthye faces a life-defining choice and the film plants the seeds for the next chapter of the DC Universe.
Verb
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Supporting people who have too often been, and continue to be, persecuted and othered would be a direct way to address the suffering.
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It's partially inspired by director Benjamin Christensen's research on the German text Malleus Maleficarum, a guide to witchcraft for inquisitors looking to persecute its perpetrators.
Verb
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Deep trust grows with clear boundaries as aching Chiron enters your 8th House of Intimacy and Shared Resources.
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Systemic symptoms may include dizziness, headaches, a rapid heart rate, fatigue, intense thirst, and body aches.
Cite this Entry
“Anguish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anguish. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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