Meaning & use

anguish

noun·Academic

Severe mental or physical suffering caused by grief, pain, or worry.

See it in a sentence

She felt a wave of anguish when she heard the news of the accident.

His face showed the anguish of a father waiting outside the hospital room.

A note on using this word

Anguish is usually intense and often visible, unlike milder words such as 'worry.'

Words with a similar meaning

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

Another way to use it

2. verb

To suffer or cause someone to suffer severe mental or physical pain.

She anguished over the decision for weeks before finally choosing to leave.

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “anguish”, then compare your use with the examples above.

Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.