Anguish
/ˈæŋɡwɪʃ/
nounIntermediateCommonGeneral
Meaning
Question
Definitions
1
Extreme mental or physical suffering.
/ˈæŋɡwɪʃ/
nounnegativeIntermediate
General
Severe mental or physical suffering.
Her anguish was palpable.
💡 Simply: Deep sadness and pain.
More Examples
2
The news filled him with anguish.
How It's Used
Psychology
"The patient described their anguish after the accident."
Literature
"The novel portrays the characters' anguish with vivid detail."
From Old French anguisse, from Latin angustus "narrow, constricted," referring to a feeling of tightness or constriction in the chest.
Historically, 'anguish' has been used to describe both physical and mental pain, with a strong emphasis on the feeling of constriction.
Memory tip
Imagine a 'narrow' feeling in your chest – that's the constriction of anguish.
Practice
angwishanguishhangush
Usage
20%Spoken
80%Written