ANGUISH Synonyms: 253 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'anguish' different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of anguish are grief , regret , sorrow , and woe . While all these words mean "distress of mind," anguish suggests torturing grief or dread. // the anguish felt by the parents of the kidnapped child

Q: When could 'grief' be used to replace 'anguish'?

The words grief and anguish are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, grief implies poignant sorrow for an immediate cause. // the inexpressible grief of the bereaved parents

Q: When can 'regret' be used instead of 'anguish'?

Although the words regret and anguish have much in common, regret implies pain caused by deep disappointment, fruitless longing, or unavailing remorse. // nagging regret for missed opportunities

Q: When might 'sorrow' be a better fit than 'anguish'?

While the synonyms sorrow and anguish are close in meaning, sorrow implies a sense of loss or a sense of guilt and remorse. // a family united in sorrow upon the patriarch's death

Q: When would 'woe' be a good substitute for 'anguish'?

The meanings of woe and anguish largely overlap; however, woe is deep or inconsolable grief or misery. // cries of woe echoed throughout the bombed city

anguish 1 of 2

noun

ˈaŋ-gwish

Definition of anguish

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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anguish

2 of 2

verb

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

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word anguish different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of anguish are grief, regret, sorrow, and woe. While all these words mean "distress of mind," anguish suggests torturing grief or dread.

the anguish felt by the parents of the kidnapped child

When could grief be used to replace anguish?

The words grief and anguish are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, grief implies poignant sorrow for an immediate cause.

the inexpressible grief of the bereaved parents

When can regret be used instead of anguish?

Although the words regret and anguish have much in common, regret implies pain caused by deep disappointment, fruitless longing, or unavailing remorse.

nagging regret for missed opportunities

When might sorrow be a better fit than anguish?

While the synonyms sorrow and anguish are close in meaning, sorrow implies a sense of loss or a sense of guilt and remorse.

a family united in sorrow upon the patriarch's death

When would woe be a good substitute for anguish?

The meanings of woe and anguish largely overlap; however, woe is deep or inconsolable grief or misery.

cries of woe echoed throughout the bombed city

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of anguish

Noun

But Alys recognizes the anguish of a man just beginning his cursed life. — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026 Almodóvar’s film focuses on the suffering caused by a terminal diagnosis, and the additional anguish incurred by not having the option of aid in dying. — Vanessa Rampton, STAT, 5 Aug. 2026

Verb

Hong Kong is an anguishing example. — Michelle Kuo, The Dial, 14 Apr. 2026 Especially for someone whose entire adult life has been immersed in the adrenaline-infusion of coaching — from its exhilarating highs and anguishing lows to simply always being in the middle of so much. — Kansas City Star, 1 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for anguish

Recent Examples of Synonyms for anguish

Noun

Three of the world’s four refining hubs are in severe distress.

— David Goldman, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2026
Like many patients, especially those in acute distress, Clancy was perhaps not always perfectly transparent or coöperative with her medical providers.

— Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of distress

Noun

Richards somehow had the fortitude to continue a grueling European tour in the middle of all this chaos and sorrow, but a stadium run through America at the end of the summer was simply too much to ask.

— Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 21 Aug. 2026
Prescott’s story is both a rallying cry and a tragic narrative full of sorrow.

— Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of sorrow

Verb

Poliński said Zosia would likely have been blamed for misfortunes such as disease and famine that often plagued the region in the 17th century, which people sometimes attributed to supernatural activity by the dead.

— Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
Frightened that she may be plagued by the same mental illness that felled her mom, Gemma stubbornly refuses to believe anything is wrong.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of plague

Noun

Such is the ecstasy, the agony, of judgment, which was never for their benefit.

— Lauren Michele Jackson, New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2026
The man with almost no injury was writhing in agony, while the man with a four-inch nail lodged near his brain kept working for six days, not even realizing the nail was there.

— Kevin Kruse, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026

Definition of agony

Noun

Moving between Paris and Belo Horizonte, the film explores grief, migration, Black identity and the invisible ties connecting women across generations.

— Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 27 Aug. 2026
Asked about previously describing the aftermath as losing more than half of his family — including Nick — Jake acknowledged that his brother’s arrest has compounded his grief.

— Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of grief

Verb

Other Eurasian emperors of the time also did not persecute occult practitioners as Ivan did in the lead-up to the second oprichnina, actions more in line with attitudes in early modern Christian Europe than those common among rulers of Asia.

— Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026
Many Marranos persecuted by the Inquisition did secretly maintain a Jewish identity.

— Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of persecute

Verb

The 49ers have been aching to develop a draftee into a star, and Stribling might be their best shot since drafting Purdy in 2022.

— Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 20 Aug. 2026
Most people who are infected with the virus have either no symptoms or experience a mild illness such as fever, headache, and body aches.

— Paula Wethington, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of ache

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anguished

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“Anguish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anguish. Accessed 28 Aug. 2026.

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