as in pains
a sharp unpleasant sensation usually felt in some specific part of the body
those hunger pangs that strike you in the middle of the afternoon
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Recent Examples of pangs
Alesandra Dubin, Travel + Leisure, 20 Jan. 2026
And dehydration—which tends to shoot up during the winter thanks in part to the drier air—can also spur hunger pangs and cravings if your body misinterprets the signals.
—Caroline Tien, SELF, 15 Jan. 2026
The moment is fleeting, though, interrupted by the sharp pangs of rapidly escalating synthesizers that create a sudden sense of claustrophobic exhilaration.
—Literary Hub, 14 Jan. 2026
How Popcorn Affects Your Stomach When your stomach starts growling between meals, popcorn might be just the thing to alleviate those annoying hunger pangs.
—Ann Pietrangelo, Verywell Health, 22 Dec. 2025
Songwriters expressing pangs of grief for what once was held court with others fretting about undesirable futures and still others dreaming up cooler tomorrows.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025
At the same time, many of our neighbors have lost jobs to corporate layoffs, government cutbacks and simple chance, and suddenly feel the pangs of hunger in this land of plenty.
—Cardinal Blase Cupich, Mercury News, 27 Nov. 2025
Mira Nair has kept at it for over three decades—whether through Monsoon Wedding (2001), which took Delhi’s chaotic beauty global, or The Namesake (2006), which tenderly captured the sharp pangs of diasporic longing.
—Bhanuj Kappal, Vogue, 15 Nov. 2025
Some detail Lucy’s desperate search for a new refrigerator for her mother-in-law during the height of the war, while others show the pangs of jealousy that come with a new relationship.
—Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 5 Nov. 2025
Noun
Packing your own treats not only saves money between meals, but also keeps mood-tanking hunger pangs at bay.
—Alesandra Dubin, Travel + Leisure, 20 Jan. 2026
And dehydration—which tends to shoot up during the winter thanks in part to the drier air—can also spur hunger pangs and cravings if your body misinterprets the signals.
—Caroline Tien, SELF, 15 Jan. 2026
The moment is fleeting, though, interrupted by the sharp pangs of rapidly escalating synthesizers that create a sudden sense of claustrophobic exhilaration.
—Literary Hub, 14 Jan. 2026
How Popcorn Affects Your Stomach When your stomach starts growling between meals, popcorn might be just the thing to alleviate those annoying hunger pangs.
—Ann Pietrangelo, Verywell Health, 22 Dec. 2025
Songwriters expressing pangs of grief for what once was held court with others fretting about undesirable futures and still others dreaming up cooler tomorrows.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025
At the same time, many of our neighbors have lost jobs to corporate layoffs, government cutbacks and simple chance, and suddenly feel the pangs of hunger in this land of plenty.
—Cardinal Blase Cupich, Mercury News, 27 Nov. 2025
Mira Nair has kept at it for over three decades—whether through Monsoon Wedding (2001), which took Delhi’s chaotic beauty global, or The Namesake (2006), which tenderly captured the sharp pangs of diasporic longing.
—Bhanuj Kappal, Vogue, 15 Nov. 2025
Some detail Lucy’s desperate search for a new refrigerator for her mother-in-law during the height of the war, while others show the pangs of jealousy that come with a new relationship.
—Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 5 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pangs
Noun
-
In fact, Williams took great pains to establish that his primary objective is building the Terps (7-7, 0-3 Big Ten), not tearing down a 21-year-old prospect, the Bears or the sport’s governing body.—
Edward Lee,
Baltimore Sun,
3 Jan. 2026
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Those in their fifties and beyond require the same amount of sleep as younger adults—and may actually benefit from sleeping more to offset nightly wake-ups from aches and pains, medication side effects, or dealing with the need to urinate more frequently in the middle of the night.—
Emma Loewe,
Outside,
1 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Backroads Building and maintaining muscle is an important part of aging well, and there are plenty of travelers who are stronger than ever (even if there are a few more aches and pains) in their 50s and 60s.—
Christine Sarkis,
USA Today,
27 Jan. 2026
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The detox massage worked deep into the hiking aches.—
Jemima Sissons,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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In seismic papers, Borjas’s research described the drawbacks of immigration, including his oft-cited, though much-disputed, findings that the arrival of lower-skilled immigrants hurts American workers who compete for jobs, especially poor people and African Americans.—
Lauren Kaori Gurley,
Washington Post,
7 Jan. 2026
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That one still hurts a little bit.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Researchers suggested that future studies should include people who actually experience tingles to better understand how ASMR might help with mental health and relaxation.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Milo tries to be a hero, trying to use pepper spray on Morgan, but Morgan stabs and kills him.—
Barry Levitt,
Time,
21 Jan. 2026
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Percy, now carrying the Golden Fleece, runs toward the elevator, but Luke stabs him through the closing doors.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
20 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pangs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pangs. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
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