Anguish - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
Anguish is intense emotional suffering or distress, often caused by extreme pain, grief, or despair. It describes deep mental or physical torment that feels overwhelming and unbearable.
Definition:
Severe mental or emotional pain, often caused by suffering or distress.
Synonyms:
torment, agony, distress, sorrow, misery
Part of Speech:
noun, verb
Antonyms:
joy, happiness
Common Collocations:
deep anguish, emotional anguish, cry in anguish, suffer anguish, express anguish
Derivatives:
anguished (adj.), anguishing (v.)
Usage Tips:
Use "anguish" to describe intense emotional suffering rather than mild discomfort; often paired with words like "emotional" or "deep."
Common Phrases:
in anguish, cry out in anguish, writhing in anguish
Etymology:
From Old French "angoisse," meaning distress or anxiety; ultimately from Latin "angustia," meaning tightness or narrowness.
Examples:
- 1. She cried out in anguish after hearing the news.
- 2. His face showed deep anguish as he recounted the loss.
- 3. The mother felt overwhelming anguish when her child went missing.
- 4. They endured years of anguish waiting for justice.