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
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Recent Examples of anguished
David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 22 Jan. 2026
Her new film forgoes cross-cultural humor in favor of an anguished Arab-Israeli history lesson, which stretches from the violent uprootings of 1948 to the eerie calm of 2022, about a year before the attacks of October 7, 2023.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 14 Jan. 2026
Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 24 Nov. 2025
But the intellectual self-questioning and anguished artistic experimentation that began in the early twentieth century after the annihilation of Europe’s old verities did not find fertile ground in the United States, either before the war or after it.
—Victor J. Blue, Harpers Magazine, 23 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for anguished
Adjective
Seen here cosplaying as herself in some of the film’s least essential recreations, Shamraz determines that the locals can’t be trusted to save themselves, and sends in a rescue helicopter without communicating her plan to the anguished parents and friends who are watching the situation unfold.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 22 Jan. 2026
Her new film forgoes cross-cultural humor in favor of an anguished Arab-Israeli history lesson, which stretches from the violent uprootings of 1948 to the eerie calm of 2022, about a year before the attacks of October 7, 2023.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 14 Jan. 2026
Verb
Insert anguished grimace emoji here.
—Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 24 Nov. 2025
But the intellectual self-questioning and anguished artistic experimentation that began in the early twentieth century after the annihilation of Europe’s old verities did not find fertile ground in the United States, either before the war or after it.
—Victor J. Blue, Harpers Magazine, 23 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for anguished
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anguished
Adjective
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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
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The show manages to stay on the brink — always laughing, never quite weeping — for its entire length.—
Helen Shaw,
Vulture,
8 Dec. 2021
Verb
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Demary’s mere appearance in uniform provided a spark, a lightening of the burden for his teammates, who’d been mired in a shooting slump and plagued by turnovers.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
23 Mar. 2026
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She was plagued with all manner of rashes, sores and ulcers.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The whole country mourned her loss and grieved for her two young daughters, Ellie and Carrie, who were just 6 and 2 at the time.—
Madeline Mitchell,
USA Today,
21 Mar. 2026
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But anyone who has ever grieved knows there will be no closure for these families; there will be only an opening, a void where someone was and now isn’t.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Over the years, humpback whale songs have been recorded for human listening, with many describing the songs as having a haunting, mournful quality.—
Patrick Whittle,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Mar. 2026
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Humpback whales, which can weigh more than 55,000 pounds, are the ocean's most renowned singers, capable of complex vocalizations that can sound ethereal or even mournful.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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An immigration judge has previously found that she would be persecuted by the Israeli government if she was removed there.—
Kristie Keleshian,
CBS News,
22 Mar. 2026
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Some had been granted the opportunity to stay after proving to immigration judges that they would probably be persecuted if returned to their homeland.—
Kate Linthicum,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Many Banksy fans mourned the loss of the mystery and lashed out at the news outlet.—
Laurie Kellman,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Mar. 2026
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Many Banksy fans mourned the loss of the mystery and lashed out at the news outlet.—
Laurie Kellman,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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His heartbroken daughter told the Daily News just days after the attack that he was not expected to survive.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
25 Mar. 2026
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My heart goes out to the heartbroken family of Sheridan Gorman.—
Madeline Buckley,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The outcome will likely transform the already heated debate over social media addiction as a concept, what role apps may play in engineering it, and whether individuals like Kaley can prove they’re afflicted.—
Sonja Sharp,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Mar. 2026
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The disease afflicted homosexuals, Haitians, haemophiliacs and heroin addicts.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Anguished.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anguished. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
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