1
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
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
-
The title of his third album, REDSTAR WU & THE WORLDWIDE SCOURGE, suggests an MCU movie in which our hero attempts to take on every problem plaguing the planet—and this time, Owusu isn’t giving his adversaries code names.—
Stuart Berman,
Pitchfork,
19 May 2026
-
Tuesday's market action was just one example of the threats that are still plaguing the market, with oil staying above $110 a barrel, and yields climbing.—
Sarah Min,
CNBC,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
And what to make of Natalia (Milena Smit), the grieving young mother who sometimes appears in the margins of Elsa’s story?—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
19 May 2026
-
He is survived by David, his grieving white partner.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
Cholera, a waterborne bacterial disease, has unleashed a perilous wave across southern Africa, with active outbreaks currently afflicting five countries in southern and central Africa.—
John Drake,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
-
Never mind the economic turbulence afflicting the country and the world, driven most recently by rising gas prices because of the war in Iran.—
Stephen Hudak,
The Orlando Sentinel,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
Between blisters, bunions, and aching arches, plenty of pairs look great but fall apart after a few hours.—
Malia Griggs,
Glamour,
14 May 2026
-
But these are quibbles when a movie conjures a world as aching and in-between as the one in The Meltdown.—
Sheri Linden,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Saddam towered over Iraq’s political regime for nearly 30 years, plunging the country into multiple destructive wars, persecuting his own citizens and inflicting widespread trauma and suffering.—
David Faris,
TheWeek,
24 Apr. 2026
-
The order also accused the Cuban government of persecuting political opponents, suppressing free speech and the press, and committing other human rights violations—actions that have been documented by human rights organizations over the years.—
Chad de Guzman,
Time,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Amidst this backdrop, Haruka Ayase and Daigo Yamamoto play a young couple mourning the recent death of their son, who brings a humanoid child robot into their home.—
Scott Feinberg,
HollywoodReporter,
16 May 2026
-
The journey moves from mourning into self-discovery, as Kerya’s return becomes a first real encounter with her Asian heritage.—
Emiliano de Pablos,
Variety,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Apparently, their definition of resistance is to gang rape as many women and men of all ages as possible before torturing, mutilating and murdering them.—
Bobby Zirkin,
Baltimore Sun,
14 May 2026
-
His 39 points on 13-of-18 shooting in Game 3, including 16 in the fourth, evoked images of Hakeem Olajuwon torturing post defenders.—
Zach Harper,
New York Times,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
Everything at this Elmhurst flamepot is punched up, texture and flavor alike, from sighing-soft to tensile to snappy, and always hot-hot-hot.—
Ligaya Mishan,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
-
Dennison said, sighing after the last note faded.—
Paul Sisson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Anguishing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anguishing. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
