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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of anguish
Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2025
With her lawsuit, Ball is seeking damages for her injuries, pain and suffering, lost earnings, disfigurement, mental anguish and more, the complaint shows.
—Julia Marnin, Miami Herald, 20 Oct. 2025
Miriam Toews
september 3, Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025
Seeing how anguished her parents were, Angelica decided to do something about it.
—Kc Baker, People.com, 27 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for anguish
Noun
Director Josh Boone will cut to a goofy montage right after a moment when a character is supposed to be mired in anguish.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2025
With her lawsuit, Ball is seeking damages for her injuries, pain and suffering, lost earnings, disfigurement, mental anguish and more, the complaint shows.
—Julia Marnin, Miami Herald, 20 Oct. 2025
Verb
Many times each day, and sometimes during the night, the old woman would bang on my door, anguished, calling out for her son: Peter, Peter!
—Miriam Toews
september 3, Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025
Seeing how anguished her parents were, Angelica decided to do something about it.
—Kc Baker, People.com, 27 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for anguish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anguish
Noun
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Appearing in court on Monday, Barton pleaded not guilty to 12 charges of sending a grossly offensive communication with the intention of causing distress or anxiety.—
Greg O'Keeffe,
New York Times,
3 Nov. 2025
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The family is seeking damages for negligence and emotional distress.—
Real-Time News team,
Miami Herald,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The marvel of this verse is in its vulnerability in expressing sorrow, lost love and despair—under the seams runs the pain.—
Amber McBride,
Literary Hub,
5 Nov. 2025
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Among the recurrent themes are suicide, mysteriously intractable sorrow, and failed attempts at familial and romantic connection.—
Margaret Talbot,
New Yorker,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Parker also faces criminal charges As school shootings continue to plague US campuses, this civil trial could serve as a roadmap for the upcoming criminal case against Parker, which itself could set a broader precedent.—
Chris Boyette,
CNN Money,
3 Nov. 2025
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The promise of Carson Beck has given way to the regression of the turnover bug that plagued him last year at Georgia.—
Erick Smith,
USA Today,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Among those grieving is Karen Taylor Bass.—
Karen Taylor Bass,
Billboard,
6 Nov. 2025
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However, the tale of a grieving husband and father quickly unraveled as Murdaugh’s laundry list of financial crimes – and elaborate cover-up schemes – against his legal clients came to light.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Following months of agony and fundraising, Abeba was eventually able to send enough money to pay for her brother Daniel’s release.—
Mick Krever,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
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Near those boundaries, microscopic changes in pace or line flip the result, explaining why near-identical putts can alternate between agony and ecstasy.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Added to the trauma of grief and sudden eviction under threat of reprisal, Adelaida has to endure seeing the sacred mementos of her mother’s life trashed by the thuggish new squatters.—
Jessica Kiang,
Variety,
31 Oct. 2025
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The Blackcoat's Daughter (2015) Moody and intricate (sometimes maddeningly so), this debut from Oz Perkins (son of Psycho star Anthony) inflicts supernatural horror and grief upon the students of a Catholic boarding school.—
Dennis Perkins,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The apology came after a sustained campaign by historians and activists who argued that the victims were persecuted for being poor, vulnerable, or simply different.—
James Frater,
CNN Money,
31 Oct. 2025
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Its depictions of dancing devils and witches’ sabbaths are supposed to scare viewers straight, but writer-director Benjamin Christensen is also sympathetic towards the plight of medieval women persecuted for witchcraft.—
Katie Rife,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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His groin ached as if Sister Wang had been clutching him for years.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Oct. 2025
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While the flu is traditionally associated with symptoms like fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, runny or stuffy nose, headache and fatigue, children and adults alike can experience moderate to severe complications.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
23 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Anguish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anguish. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
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