ANGUISHING Synonyms: 136 Similar and Opposite Words

anguishing

verb

present participle of anguish

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

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

Verb

That image stands in contrast to an epidemic of loneliness plaguing older adults that public health experts have sounded the alarm over for years.

— Taylor Seely, USA Today, 1 Aug. 2026
This completely sidesteps current debates plaguing Medicare Part B — namely, rapidly mounting medication spending has driven higher premiums and out-of-pocket payments for beneficiaries.

— Pooja Yerramilli, STAT, 24 July 2026

Definition of plaguing

Verb

Meanwhile, Wells’ father said his grieving family has received online attacks — including a sudden barrage of negative reviews against his wife, a nurse practitioner, and vitriol from strangers.

— Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026
After the hearing, a relative emphasized that the woman asked to leave was grieving.

— Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of grieving

Verb

The wildfires afflicting communities across the world can now be tracked more easily by anyone using Europe’s free and open satellite imagery service—all thanks to a wildfire visualization script originating from nearly a decade ago.

— Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 7 Aug. 2026
Other writers have successfully captured the malaise afflicting the under-45 crowd and offered nutrient-dense characters.

— Hillary Kelly, The Atlantic, 24 July 2026

Definition of afflicting

Verb

Performed beneath a continuous gentle rain of warm seawater, this experience combines mineral-rich marine exposure and thermal comfort soothing aching muscles along the way and quieting the mind.

— Rana Good, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Aug. 2026
Each line of counterpoint, each aching harmonic turn, felt like a direct transmission from some higher dimension.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 July 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

However, the latter only solidified the rumors for fans, as the color white has long been associated with mourning in Chinese traditions.

— Carly Thomas, HollywoodReporter, 1 Aug. 2026
The Ozone Park community has been mourning her loss, remembering her as a hometown hero and a beloved daughter, sister, spouse and friend.

— Alexa Herrera, CBS News, 31 July 2026

Definition of mourning

Verb

Working off a few vague details, Bret begins to imagine a link between Robert and a serial killer known as the Trawler, who has been abducting and torturing young women around Los Angeles.

— Leo Lasdun, New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2026
Chilean prosecutors believe Ojeda died while his captors were torturing him to get information about the Venezuelan political opposition.

— Sebastian Rotella, ProPublica, 10 July 2026

Definition of torturing

Verb

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
The internet may be full of people who want to outlaw leaf blowers, but misophonic triggers tend to share a bodily quality, an aurally traceable culprit such as a person crunching or sighing.

— Sloane Crosley, New Yorker, 8 June 2026

Definition of sighing

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anguishes

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“Anguishing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anguishing. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of anguishing

verb

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