as in weeping
expressing or suggesting mourning
an anguished cry the military's explanation of the accident did nothing to console the anguished widow
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in plagued
to cause persistent suffering to
she was anguished by the fear that her sons would die in the war
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in grieved
to feel deep sadness or mental pain
I anguished over the loss of my father for years afterwards
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of anguished
Ruth Marcus,
New Yorker,
26 June 2026
Ibrahim has one anguished question for me.
—
Janine Di Giovanni,
Vanity Fair,
25 June 2026
Teri Sforza,
Oc Register,
24 Nov. 2025
But the intellectual self-questioning and anguished artistic experimentation that began in the early twentieth century after the annihilation of Europe’s old verities did not find fertile ground in the United States, either before the war or after it.
—
Victor J. Blue,
Harpers Magazine,
23 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for anguished
Adjective
The Al Otro Lado case, which sparked Sotomayor’s anguished dissent, involved the Administration’s bid to avoid processing asylum claims.
—
Ruth Marcus,
New Yorker,
26 June 2026
Ibrahim has one anguished question for me.
—
Janine Di Giovanni,
Vanity Fair,
25 June 2026
Verb
Insert anguished grimace emoji here.
—
Teri Sforza,
Oc Register,
24 Nov. 2025
But the intellectual self-questioning and anguished artistic experimentation that began in the early twentieth century after the annihilation of Europe’s old verities did not find fertile ground in the United States, either before the war or after it.
—
Victor J. Blue,
Harpers Magazine,
23 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for anguished
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anguished
Adjective
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And every day, across from them, outside the clinic, about to enter or just leaving, there were women hugging each other and weeping.
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The show manages to stay on the brink — always laughing, never quite weeping — for its entire length.
Verb
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Silva served as Stockton’s mayor from 2013 to 2017, a term that was plagued by scandal.
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Drafted in the sixth round, Smack is tasked with stabilizing a position that has plagued Green Bay since Mason Crosby's departure.
Verb
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While the family grieved, the Willard Police Department got to work.
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The other thing most people miss is the sheer scale of what’s actually being grieved.
Adjective
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The years have only intensified Zimmerman’s mournful, hushed vocal performance, and Dream Me a Dream often plays out like a bedtime story spun by a beloved elder, accompanied by soft strings, shakers, and even a synth or two.
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The drama can stir up nostalgia and mournful emotions, and feels personal to many.
Verb
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In Britain, all the large predators had long since been exterminated and the smaller ones (like foxes) were ruthlessly persecuted.
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Supporting people who have too often been, and continue to be, persecuted and othered would be a direct way to address the suffering.
Verb
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Noticias Telemundo confirmed the deaths with Trejo’s soccer club, Club Sport Marítimo de La Guaira, which mourned the tragic loss of their player’s family.
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He was mourned by friends and family Sands' funeral details were kept private by the family, but several people close to the actor publicly spoke out about his death.
Adjective
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The courtroom was packed with heartbroken supporters wanting justice for Jor'Dynn as each woman stood silent in front of the judge.
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There is nothing more evocative of a pure Love Island experience than a heartbroken rage split in costume.
Verb
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They are both afflicted by cognitive and/or hearing issues.
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Two-thirds of respondents afflicted with alpha-gal reported anxiety or depressive disorders in a 2025 University of Missouri survey.
Cite this Entry
“Anguished.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anguished. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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