The newspaper told of the mother's anguish at the death of her son.
Source: tatoeba (269436)
Anguish
/ˈæŋ.ɡwɪʃ/
Synonyms for "anguish" (196 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (40)
acheaching heartafflictafflictionaggrieveagonizeagonyagony of mindailangstanxietyatrocious painbalebarb the dartbitternessblahsblanchbleedbleeding heartblench
Show 12 more words
boredombreak downbring to tearsbroken heartbruisecarecarking carecheerlessnesscrucifixioncrushcrushingcut
Adjective(3 words)
Strong matches (58)
cut updepressiondepth of miserydesolatedesolationdespairdesperationdiscomfortdiscomposurediscontentdislikedispleasuredisquietdissatisfactiondistressdisturbdoledraw tearsdreaddullness
Show 26 more words
embitteremptinessennuievilexcruciationexistential woeextremityfeel painfeel the pangsflatnessgo hard withgriefgrievegrimacegrimnesshave a miseryheartacheheartbreakheartfelt griefheartgriefheavy hearthellhurthurt the feelingsinfelicityinquietude
Noun(10 words)
distressdistressesemotional tearingethical agonyethical anxietyfretgrieveharrowheartachesheartbreaks
Adjective(1 words)
emotional distress
Verb(1 words)
Related words (98)
Adjective(2 words)
intense painunrelenting tearing
inundatejoylessnesslack of pleasurelamentationlanguishmentmalaisemartyrdommartyrizationmelancholiamelancholymiserymourningnauseanongratificationnonsatisfactionoppressoppressionordealoverwhelmpain
Show 58 more words
painfulnesspangpenitencepiercepiningplaguepoundprickprostrateprostrationrackregretruesadnesssavorlessnessshootshrinksmartsorrowsorrowingspleenstabstalenessstingstresssuffersuffer anguishsufferingsuicidal despairsweattastelessnesstediousnesstediumthrillthrobtingletormenttorturetrialtroubletwingetwist the knifetwitchuncomfortablenessuneaseuneasinessunhappinessunpleasureunrestunsatisfactionupsetvexation of spiritwincewoeworrywoundwretchednesswrithe
Noun(17 words)
Verb(1 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: torment, ache, aching heart, acute sadness, afflict.
- Sentence evidence is available for anguish, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "anguish".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "anguish"
Keep "anguish" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "anguish" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "anguish", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "anguish" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
17 entriesachecause distressdiscomfitdiscomposedisconcertdistressemotional stateexperience emotionfeel painhurtinduce emotionpsychological strainsuffersufferinguntune
Showing 16 of 17 words.
More specific
11 entriesCollocations
7 entriesdeep anguishemotional anguishgreat anguishintense anguishmental anguishmoral anguishprofound anguish
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
4 entriesSample sentences
24 total sentences available.
He is in anguish over her child.
Source: tatoeba (297139)
She takes a new lover while he is in anguish.
Source: tatoeba (1280967)
Adele watched her friend with dismay. Large tears flooded her face, she could not suppress this scream of anguish and pity: "Oh! Mary! poor Mary!".
Source: tatoeba (1930612)
Showing 4 of 24 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "anguish"?
Closest matches include torment, ache, aching heart, acute sadness, afflict.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "anguish"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.