Anguish

Pronunciation: /ˈæŋɡwɪʃ/

Definitions of anguish

noun extreme pain, distress, or suffering

Example Sentences

A1 She felt great anguish when her pet ran away.

A2 The character in the novel experienced deep anguish after losing a loved one.

B1 The family was in anguish as they waited for news of the missing hiker.

B2 The soldier's anguish over the loss of his comrades was palpable.

C1 The artist's work often evokes feelings of anguish and despair.

C2 The tragic ending of the play left the audience in a state of profound anguish.

Examples of anguish in a Sentence

formal The widow's face was filled with anguish as she mourned the loss of her husband.

informal She was in total anguish after failing her final exam.

slang I can't believe he ghosted me, I'm in total anguish.

figurative The artist's painting captured the anguish of the war-torn country.

Grammatical Forms of anguish

• past tense: anguished
• plural: anguishes
• comparative: more anguished
• superlative: most anguished
• present tense: anguish
• future tense: will anguish
• perfect tense: have anguished
• continuous tense: is anguishing
• singular: anguish
• positive degree: anguish
• infinitive: to anguish
• gerund: anguishing
• participle: anguished

Origin and Evolution of anguish

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Old French

Story behind the word: The word 'anguish' originated from the Old French word 'anguisse' which came from the Latin word 'angustia' meaning 'tightness' or 'distress'.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'anguish' has retained its core meaning of extreme mental or emotional distress, but it has also come to be used in a broader sense to describe intense physical pain or suffering.