anguish - Master This Word
Master this word with our 5-step learning method – Learn English in English
anguish Word Meanings
- severe mental or physical pain
- extreme distress or suffering
- to cause someone to feel intense pain
anguish Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
anguish Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/ˈæŋɡwɪʃ/
US
/ˈæŋɡwɪʃ/
anguish Word Etymology
Anguish breaks down to 'ang-' meaning 'tight' and 'guish' from 'wīsk', meaning 'to ache'. It comes from French 'anguissante' and Latin 'anguere', meaning 'to choke'. Picture someone gripping their chest tightly as if in suffocating pain.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputReal Context
Anguish refers to extreme mental or physical pain and can describe both acute feelings and chronic distress. It often conveys a sense of overwhelming sorrow, torment, or grief that is hard to bear. You might notice anguish in scenes of loss, illness, or trauma, where a person is desperate for relief. The verb sense is rarer in English, but to anguish someone can mean to cause intense pain or misery, typically through threats or harm inflicted by others. In everyday speech, anguish is usually described with modifiers like severe, intense, or crushing to emphasize the gravity of the experience.
Usage Reminders
- avoid confusing with anxiety or fear; note that anguish is extreme pain, not just worry
- use with severe/intense/crushing to emphasize gravity
- rarely used as a verb in everyday speech
- prefer synonyms like agony or torment for strong emotion
- collocate with contexts of loss, illness, or trauma to sound natural
- check tone in formal writing; it sounds dramatic or literary
Common Misconceptions
- Anguish is the same as anxiety or fear.
- It only refers to emotional pain, not physical pain.
- Anguish is a casual, everyday term.
- To anguish someone is a common verb in daily speech.
- Anguish and agony mean exactly the same thing in all contexts.
Thinking Differences
English speakers often reserve anguish for intense emotional or physical pain in dramatic or formal contexts; learners may overgeneralize it to any sadness or worry.
Learning Tips
- Learn the pronunciation: /ˈæŋɡwɪʃ/
- Pair with severe/intense/crushing for emphasis
- Keep it for strong emotional or physical pain
- Do not use for mild sadness
- Differentiate from agony vs anguish by tone of voice
- Practice with contexts of loss, illness, or trauma
5-Step Learning Method - Learn English in English
Step 1: Meaning
What is the meaning of the word 'anguish'?
A.Desire
B.Pain
C.Joy
D.Fear
Step 2: Usage
In which of the following sentences is 'anguish' used correctly?
A.She felt anguish when she won the lottery.
B.The anguish of losing her pet made her cry.
C.His anguish turned into happiness when he saw his family.
D.He laughed with anguish at the funny joke.
Step 3: Similar Words
Which word is a synonym of 'anguish'?
A.Excitement
B.Sorrow
C.Comfort
D.Surprise
Step 4: Opposite Words
In which of the following situations would 'anguish' be most likely felt?
A.Losing a loved one
B.Attending a party
C.Winning a prize
D.Exploring a new place
Step 5: Mastery
How would you use 'anguish' in a real-life context?
A.Describe the feeling of someone who just got a promotion.
B.Reflect on the pain and sorrow of a character in a novel.
C.Explain the emotion experienced after a long day at the beach.
D.Discuss the excitement of a successful business venture.
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