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anguishing

verb

present participle of anguish
1
as in plaguing
to cause persistent suffering to she was anguished by the fear that her sons would die in the war

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in grieving
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 anguishing 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anguishing
  1. plaguing
  2. grieving
  3. afflicting
  4. aching
  5. persecuting
  6. mourning
  7. torturing
  8. sighing
Verb
  • Warren’s attempt to suppress the procession exemplifies the sort of religious prejudices plaguing Italian communities during that period.
    — Clare Whitton, The Conversation, 17 Sep. 2026
  • But to Molland, many of their struggles aren’t that different from those plaguing modern couples.
    — Marta Balaga, Variety, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of plaguing
Verb
  • But while politicians trade barbs, residents in Rio de Janeiro have been designing their own responses, with ex-traffickers launching podcasts and grieving mothers stepping up to stop youth recruitment.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 27 Sep. 2026
  • The Justice Department unveiled a $25 million grant opportunity Thursday as Attorney General Todd Blanche hosted violent crime survivors and grieving families for a summit focused on public safety and support for victims.
    — Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of grieving
Verb
  • Singh and Jaggseer, like Beyoncé and Lil Nas X before them, highlight an identity crisis afflicting modern country music.
    — Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2026
  • The work continues and the Frates family has maintained the passion that Pete instilled in them in fighting the disease that is still afflicting far too many people.
    — Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of afflicting
Verb
  • The aching reality of life for oppressed Black people is never explicitly referred to.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Japanese arthouse favorite Hirokazu Koreeda returns to his wheelhouse to marvelous effect with Look Back, an aching drama about growing up and making art, featuring a pair of stunning performances from child actors.
    — Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of aching
Verb
  • Biden weaponized Law Enforcement against his political opponent, while also persecuting many other innocent people.
    — New York Times, New York Times, 11 June 2026
  • Jack Hayford, the founder of the King’s University, in Texas, claimed that the film was persecuting Christians, who only wanted to be treated equally.
    — Isaac Butler, New Yorker, 30 May 2026
Definition of persecuting
Verb
  • An absent father—mourning a mother—a startling lack of siblings but a plethora of cousins—exile from her community.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Now, his family and the local community are mourning the teen known for his extraordinary kindness.
    — Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of mourning
Verb
  • The accounts of her cruelty were gruesome — publicly torturing women, cutting off their fingers, murdering hundreds of them.
    — Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Alsheikh was involved in torturing political dissidents to deter opposition to the regime of then-Syrian President Bashar Assad, according to the Justice Department.
    — Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of torturing
Verb
  • By the 11th game of the third set, Keys was hitting herself in the head with her racket, taking her cap off and sighing deep breaths that were either meant to steady her or out of exasperation.
    — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2026
  • The soundtrack—by the frequent Hans Zimmer collaborator David Fleming—is a delight, a polyphonic mood board of ghost-clangs, spooky bassoons, lyrical electro-motifs, and sighing sea themes.
    — James Parker, The Atlantic, 20 July 2026
Definition of sighing

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anguishes
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Cite this Entry

“Anguishing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anguishing. Accessed 29 Sep. 2026.

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