1
as in distress
a state of great suffering of body or mind
as a new teacher, she was in real anguish over the decision to report the cheating
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2
as in sorrow
deep sadness especially for the loss of someone or something loved
words can't express my anguish at losing my cat
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1
as in to plague
to cause persistent suffering to
she was anguished by the fear that her sons would die in the war
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2
as in to grieve
to feel deep sadness or mental pain
I anguished over the loss of my father for years afterwards
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of anguish
Morgan Korn, ABC News, 12 June 2025
To date, Operation UNITED has resulted in 33 positive identifications of people whose disappearance had left family members in anguish.
—Michael Kaplan, CBS News, 16 June 2025
Ben Travers, IndieWire, 21 Mar. 2025
And yet, the film has a pretty expert ensemble — Kevin Spacey won the Oscar, but Annette Bening was even more deserving — and Conrad Hall’s photography captures all the shiny surfaces that contrast with the characters’ anguished inner worlds.
—Will Leitch, Vulture, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for anguish
Noun
All the pain and anguish, however, will pay off when the drivers stand on the podium and hoist the coveted winners' trophy.
—Morgan Korn, ABC News, 12 June 2025
To date, Operation UNITED has resulted in 33 positive identifications of people whose disappearance had left family members in anguish.
—Michael Kaplan, CBS News, 16 June 2025
Verb
Others will be anguishing over Irving (John Turturro) and Burt (Christopher Walken), whose respective and collective fates weren’t addressed at all.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 21 Mar. 2025
And yet, the film has a pretty expert ensemble — Kevin Spacey won the Oscar, but Annette Bening was even more deserving — and Conrad Hall’s photography captures all the shiny surfaces that contrast with the characters’ anguished inner worlds.
—Will Leitch, Vulture, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for anguish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anguish
Noun
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Extreme heat can also be an obstacle to exercising, spending time in nature, and socializing, all of which can make people feel good and also double as important coping mechanisms for emotional distress.—
Yasmin Tayag,
The Atlantic,
26 July 2025
-
Phillips hid the pregnancy and acted under extreme emotional distress, citing financial struggles and homelessness at the time, her lawyer said.—
Lesley Cosme Torres,
People.com,
25 July 2025
Noun
-
The world moves forward, but I'm suspended in a place of sorrow and rage.—
Jenna Sundel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 July 2025
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But the two consciously dug themselves out of sorrow and misery and eventually were able to establish a foundation in Ethan's name, Ethan's Smile, which has given scholarships to more than 80 students.—
Liz Kreutz,
NBC news,
14 July 2025
Verb
-
Mohammad Omar had been plagued with medical problems since birth.—
Li-Lian Ahlskog Hou,
CNN Money,
22 July 2025
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That’s the kind of problem that leads to the rodent Rose Parade that’s plagued other restaurants on this street.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
21 July 2025
Verb
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Building the Band producers and Payne’s grieving family were weighing Payne’s inclusion, and ultimately decided to move forward with the former One Direction member remaining in the show made by Remarkable Entertainment (part of Banijay U.K.).—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
29 July 2025
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In early May, as the victim met with the pastor to grieve the loss of her brother, Jay touched her over her clothes, documents say.—
Richard Ruelas,
AZCentral.com,
28 July 2025
Noun
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With his wife in agony, Jason Nixdorf had a chance encounter with Zach Veigulis, a former chief data scientist at the Department of Veterans Affairs who was co-founding a company to help patients battle insurance company denials.—
Gretchen Morgenson,
NBC news,
18 July 2025
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Thank God that my family members could get vaccinated and have been free of the pain and agony of these illnesses.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
7 July 2025
Noun
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But this time, grief and fear were tinged with a fleeting hope for change that quickly gave way to despair.—
Dan Bilefsky,
HollywoodReporter,
25 July 2025
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Yes, the money is important, but the grief from your father’s death and the confusion around the inheritance have created wounds that money wouldn’t fix.—
Eric Thomas,
The Orlando Sentinel,
25 July 2025
Verb
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Soliman spent about four years at Cincinnati Children's, first arriving in the United States in 2014 after being persecuted in his native Egypt for work in support of freelance journalists.—
Patricia Gallagher Newberry,
The Enquirer,
25 July 2025
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The state government, closely aligned with Virginia’s de facto official Anglican church, persecuted Baptists during the 18th century.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2025
Verb
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On the drive home, my arms felt shaky, and my lower back ached somewhat.—
Elise Devlin,
New York Times,
24 July 2025
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Invasive listeriosis can cause the following symptoms: Muscle aches Stiff neck Confusion Loss of balance Sometimes these symptoms occur after diarrhea or other gastrointestinal issues.—
Monroe Hammond,
EverydayHealth.com,
8 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Anguish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anguish. Accessed 7 Aug. 2025.
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