anguished 1 of 2

adjective

ˈaŋ-gwisht How to pronounce anguished (audio)
Definition of anguishednext
as in weeping
expressing or suggesting mourning an anguished cry the military's explanation of the accident did nothing to console the anguished widow

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

anguished

2 of 2

verb

past tense of anguish
1
as in plagued
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 grieved
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

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
Adjective
Meanwhile, the French are flocking to see a two-part, five-hour-long movie, La Bataille de Gaulle, which retells the story—both anguished and heroic—of defeat, collaboration, resistance, and liberation. — Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 9 July 2026 Okeadu slid to the ground with a thud, his head lolling strangely, with sharp, anguished sounds rising from his body. — ABC News, 30 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 anguished
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anguished
  1. weeping
  2. plagued
  3. grieved
  4. mournful
  5. persecuted
  6. mourned
  7. heartbroken
  8. afflicted
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
Definition of weeping
Verb
  • Committee delays The county formed a committee, the Advisory Meeting on Public School Capacity, that was supposed to figure out how to fix the problem, but it's been plagued by delays filling its seats and only met for the first time last month.
    — Mike Hellgren, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026
  • His stint with the Bills was plagued by injuries and a Dallas domestic violence case that led to a four-game suspension.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of plagued
Verb
  • The family grieved quietly, rarely speaking to one another about what happened, Phan said.
    — Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026
  • We are further grieved by continuing violence and instability in the Middle East, including the recent conflict involving Iran and its widening humanitarian consequences.
    — Killingly-Brooklyn Interfaith Council, Hartford Courant, 9 July 2026
Definition of grieved
Adjective
  • Since his siblings were crying with the same mournful expression, clinging to their father’s corpse, Shoichiro willed himself to cry too, and the tears came immediately.
    — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
  • But there’s something mournful, something searching about his statement, too.
    — Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 24 July 2026
Definition of mournful
Verb
  • Although the two programs similarly target humanitarian concerns, being a TPS holder does not guarantee asylum, which requires that applicants prove they’ve been persecuted on specific grounds.
    — Cameron Pugh, Christian Science Monitor, 1 Aug. 2026
  • In The Bacchae, Dionysus becomes violent only because his existence has been denied and his followers persecuted, and his maenads similarly become destructive only when pursued.
    — Angelica Frey, JSTOR Daily, 31 July 2026
Definition of persecuted
Verb
  • Following her sudden death, Panettiere’s Nashville castmates — among her other costars and peers — mourned the actress.
    — Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Friends and colleagues mourned Panettiere’s death on social media.
    — Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of mourned
Adjective
  • The beloved bald eagle and her partner, Shadow, had fans across the world captivated through Friends of Big Bear Valley's live-stream nest camera, and Jackie's death has left thousands heartbroken.
    — Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Lyman Dawkins, mayor of Gaffney, said he was heartbroken over news of the shooting.
    — Jeff A. Chamer, Charlotte Observer, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of heartbroken
Verb
  • Repeat this process once the soil has dried again, until affected plants are no longer afflicted with pests.
    — Abby Monteil, The Spruce, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Blending horror with comedy, the Apple TV show takes place in a fictitious New England island town afflicted by a centuries-old curse that brings about supernatural evils.
    — Beatrice Verhoeven, HollywoodReporter, 31 July 2026
Definition of afflicted

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Cite this Entry

“Anguished.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anguished. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of anguished for Spanish Speakers

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