anguish

Noun · Verb
Synonyms: tormenttorturepainhurt

WordNet 3.0

Noun (2)

  1. extreme mental distressSynonyms: tormenttorture
  2. extreme distress of body or mind

Verb (2)

  1. suffer great pains or distress
  2. cause emotional anguish or make miserable“It pains me to see my children not being taught well in school”Synonyms: painhurt
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Anguish \An"guish\, n. [OE. anguishe, anguise, angoise, F. angoisse, fr. L. angustia narrowness, difficulty, distress, fr. angustus narrow, difficult, fr. angere to press together. See Anger.] Extreme pain, either of body or mind; excruciating distress. [1913 Webster]

But they hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage. --Ex. vi. 9. [1913 Webster]

Anguish as of her that bringeth forth her first child. --Jer. iv. 31. [1913 Webster]

Note: Rarely used in the plural:

Ye miserable people, you must go to God in anguishes, and make your prayer to him.— Latimer.[1913 Webster]

Syn: Agony; pang; torture; torment. See Agony. [1913 Webster]

Anguish \An"guish\, v. t. [Cf. F. angoisser, fr. L. angustiare.] To distress with extreme pain or grief. [R.] --Temple. [1913 Webster]
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