Synonyms of anguish

anguish 1 of 2

noun

ˈaŋ-gwish 

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• distress
• agony
• pain
• misery
• discomfort
• torment
• torture
• sorrow
• tribulation
• woe
• sadness
• hurt
• pang
• travail
• excruciation
• heartbreak
• hardship
• rack
• affliction
• difficulty
• strait(s)
• heartache
• trouble
• unhappiness
• danger
• ache
• emergency
• crucible
• cross
• joylessness
• soreness
• jeopardy
• trial
• twinge
• pinch
• rigor
• stitch
• smarting
• throe
• asperity

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• comfort
• relief
• solace
• consolation
• ease
• alleviation
• peace
• security
• assuagement
• well-being

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sorrow
• grief
• heartbreak
• agony
• heartache
• pain
• guilt
• woe
• suffering
• remorse
• distress
• sorrowfulness
• despair
• misery
• melancholy
• dolor
• shame
• depression
• torment
• regret
• affliction
• sorriness
• unhappiness
• dejection
• oppression
• gloom
• dolefulness
• wretchedness
• blues
• gloominess
• despondency
• contrition
• heartsickness
• dreariness
• melancholia
• dumps
• desolation
• joylessness
• miserableness
• glumness
• despondence
• forlornness
• rue
• self-reproach
• desolateness
• doldrums
• downheartedness
• self-pity
• blue devils
• disconsolateness
• woefulness
• mopes
• dispiritedness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• joy
• ecstasy
• exultation
• elation
• happiness
• pleasure
• glee
• delight
• exuberance
• rapture
• jubilation
• euphoria
• bliss
• exhilaration
• cheerfulness
• gladness
• joyousness
• mirth
• joyfulness
• blessedness
• felicity
• cheer
• merriment
• cheeriness
• humor
• gaiety
• optimism
• joviality
• merrymaking
• jollity
• blissfulness
• hopefulness
• lightheartedness
• gayness
• gleefulness
• enjoyment
• elatedness
• mirthfulness
• rapturousness
• gladsomeness
• content
• contentment
• sunniness
• contentedness

anguish

2 of 2

verb

1

as in to plague

to cause persistent suffering to

she was anguished by the fear that her sons would die in the war

Synonyms & Similar Words

• plague
• persecute
• afflict
• torture
• torment
• curse
• attack
• agonize
• beset
• bother
• trouble
• besiege
• sting
• harrow
• bedevil
• rack
• distress
• excruciate
• discomfort
• pain
• worry
• disquiet
• stress
• overwhelm
• grieve
• strike
• annoy
• disturb
• aggravate
• hurt
• upset
• pursue
• exasperate
• dog
• irritate
• assail
• vex
• irk
• ride
• hound
• discompose
• harass
• strain
• fluster
• grate
• agitate
• harry
• gripe
• oppress
• pique
• bug
• put out
• badger
• chafe
• rasp
• gall
• rile
• stab
• try
• molest
• nettle
• prick
• victimize
• perturb
• peeve
• smite
• pang
• tyrannize
• pester
• crush
• overpower
• martyr
• wring
• hagride
• get
• smart

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• help
• aid
• assist
• relieve
• release
• abet
• comfort
• deliver
• soothe
• content
• quiet
• console
• reprieve
• solace
• succor

2

as in to grieve

to feel deep sadness or mental pain

I anguished over the loss of my father for years afterwards

Synonyms & Similar Words

• grieve
• ache
• sorrow
• mourn
• sigh
• suffer
• cry
• agonize
• sob
• hurt
• weep
• bleed
• torment
• groan
• tear one's hair
• long (for)
• eat one's heart out
• torture
• moan
• pine (away)
• bewail
• lament
• regret
• howl
• rue
• blubber
• smart
• bemoan
• wail
• languish
• bawl
• rack
• deplore
• keen
• take on
• yowl
• yammer

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• joy
• glory
• triumph
• beam
• laugh
• delight
• rejoice
• cheer
• comfort
• assure
• sympathize
• exult
• reassure
• soothe
• crow
• ravish
• console
• solace
• commiserate

Synonym Chooser

How is the word anguish different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of anguish are grief, regret, sorrow, and woe. While all these words mean "distress of mind," anguish suggests torturing grief or dread.

the anguish felt by the parents of the kidnapped child

When could grief be used to replace anguish?

The words grief and anguish are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, grief implies poignant sorrow for an immediate cause.

the inexpressible grief of the bereaved parents

When can regret be used instead of anguish?

Although the words regret and anguish have much in common, regret implies pain caused by deep disappointment, fruitless longing, or unavailing remorse.

nagging regret for missed opportunities

When might sorrow be a better fit than anguish?

While the synonyms sorrow and anguish are close in meaning, sorrow implies a sense of loss or a sense of guilt and remorse.

a family united in sorrow upon the patriarch's death

When would woe be a good substitute for anguish?

The meanings of woe and anguish largely overlap; however, woe is deep or inconsolable grief or misery.

cries of woe echoed throughout the bombed city

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of anguish

Noun

Yet masculinism also functions as a perpetual-motion machine of grievance, an inarticulate howl of anguish at the status quo—whatever that currently is. —Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 14 May 2026

Science alone isn’t enough to care for patients, because science can’t feel our anguish, our fear. —Literary Hub, 14 May 2026

Verb

There is a mood to these stories, sardonic and anguished in turn, that gets under your skin. —Emma Alpern, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025

Insert anguished grimace emoji here. —Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 24 Nov. 2025