as in weeping
expressing or suggesting mourning
an anguished cry the military's explanation of the accident did nothing to console the anguished widow
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in plagued
to cause persistent suffering to
she was anguished by the fear that her sons would die in the war
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in grieved
to feel deep sadness or mental pain
I anguished over the loss of my father for years afterwards
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 anguished
Air Mail, 19 Apr. 2025
Listen to this article A Bronx man accused of stabbing his 54-year-old stepfather to death crept into the victim’s apartment through a third-floor window before the attack, anguished family and friends said.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 8 Apr. 2025
Abinader later visited the scene, embracing anguished individuals searching for missing friends and relatives.
—Gordon G. Chang, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Apr. 2025
An anguished Dixon was instantly comforted by his teammates as Chattanooga’s bench flooded onto the court to celebrate with its players.
—Ben Church, CNN Money, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for anguished
Adjective
The courtroom reverberated with the anguished moans and last breaths of Brianna Kupfer.
—Air Mail, 19 Apr. 2025
Listen to this article A Bronx man accused of stabbing his 54-year-old stepfather to death crept into the victim’s apartment through a third-floor window before the attack, anguished family and friends said.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 8 Apr. 2025
Abinader later visited the scene, embracing anguished individuals searching for missing friends and relatives.
—Gordon G. Chang, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Apr. 2025
An anguished Dixon was instantly comforted by his teammates as Chattanooga’s bench flooded onto the court to celebrate with its players.
—Ben Church, CNN Money, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for anguished
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anguished
Adjective
-
And every day, across from them, outside the clinic, about to enter or just leaving, there were women hugging each other and weeping.—
David Mamet,
National Review,
11 Aug. 2022
-
The show manages to stay on the brink — always laughing, never quite weeping — for its entire length.—
Helen Shaw,
Vulture,
8 Dec. 2021
Adjective
-
Joining in the festivities is outgoing French student Chloé (Cécile Matignon, hugely appealing), ostensibly in a relationship but flirting brazenly with Nicolau, who even after a few beers is too mournful to pick up the signals.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
10 July 2025
-
The mournful cries of nearby Slow-Lows draw attention from other infected in the area, who plant themselves along the top of a picturesque hill waiting for the Alpha’s signal to attack.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
18 June 2025
Verb
-
Ringo was yellow submarines and octopus gardens, the mascot little brother, despite being the eldest Beatle, and the best at flittering above the feuds that afflicted the trio of geniuses around him.—
Mark Leibovich,
The Atlantic,
31 Mar. 2025
-
Unfortunately, this fresh ailment has afflicted him for the majority of his 2024-25 run.—
Paul Du Quenoy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The people of Oklahoma and Grady County in particular mourned his passing.—
Richard Selcer,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
15 Mar. 2025
-
In response to the video, some social media users mourned the decline of PlayPlaces and similar play areas.—
Raja Krishnamoorthi,
Newsweek,
13 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Raymond Cheadle, Honesty’s great-uncle, told WUSA the family, including the girl’s dad, is heartbroken.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
11 July 2025
-
Pepe has the power to make two heartbroken Islanders immediately forget about their old connections.—
Alejandra Gularte,
Vulture,
10 July 2025
Adjective
-
April 23, 2025 But a papal funeral is a papal funeral, and those present for the funeral Mass on Saturday, along with millions watching online or on TV around the world, will still observe a solemn moment involving sumptuous Catholic pageantry.—
Elisabetta Povoledo,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2025
-
Maliciously or willfully disturbing a funeral, memorial service, procession or burial ceremony. Threatening, quarreling or challenging to fight someone, or fighting.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
16 June 2025
Adjective
-
Despite her success as an art professor and painter, Ruth feels adrift and bitter.—
Bekah Waalkes,
The Atlantic,
22 July 2025
-
Instead of feeling defeated or bitter, choose to get better.—
Sandra Balogun,
Forbes.com,
22 July 2025
Verb
-
In recent months, the Kennedy Center has been besieged by performance cancelations both voluntary and involuntary.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
26 Mar. 2025
-
At the start of the invasion, Russian troops besieged the city, forcing residents to endure harsh winter conditions without electricity or water under constant shelling from Russian artillery, missiles and drones.—
Illia Novikov,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Anguished.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anguished. Accessed 26 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share