anguish
/ˈæŋɡwɪʃ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈæŋɡwɪʃ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈaŋ-gwish/ (ame, mw)
anguish — noun
1. A state of very strong emotional or physical pain that feels almost impossible t
A state of very strong emotional or physical pain that feels almost impossible to bear — for example, the pain a parent feels after losing a child, or the deep hurt someone goes through during a long illness.
Mei-Lin felt deep anguish when her grandmother passed away last winter.
uncountable: 'deep anguish'
The refugee families cried out in anguish as they watched their homes burn.
collocation: 'cry out in anguish'
Years of chronic back pain caused Takeshi a level of anguish he could not describe.
文法句型
anguish + of + noun phrase
in + anguish
用法筆記
Anguish is usually uncountable and rarely appears in the plural. It is stronger and more long-lasting than similar words like 'distress' or 'worry' — it suggests a pain that is hard to escape.
常見錯誤
anguish — verb
- anguishpresent simple I / you / we / they
- anguishes3rd person singular
- anguishing-ing form
- anguishedpast simple
1. To feel a deep, lasting emotional pain, usually because of a terrible event or a
To feel a deep, lasting emotional pain, usually because of a terrible event or a difficult choice that continues to trouble you for a long time.
Sunita anguished over whether to leave her job and move to a new city.
pattern: 'anguish over whether + infinitive'
The whole town anguished together after the factory closed and hundreds lost work.
intransitive: collective subject
Diego anguished for months about his decision, unable to find peace of mind.
- rejoice
to feel great happiness or joy
文法句型
anguish + over + noun/gerund
anguish + about + noun/gerund
用法筆記
This intransitive use is formal and far less common than the noun form. It is almost always followed by 'over' or 'about' to state the cause of the pain. In everyday speech, people more often say 'was anguished over' (adjective) or use the noun 'felt anguish'.
常見錯誤
2. To make someone experience unbearable emotional or physical pain, especially thr
To make someone experience unbearable emotional or physical pain, especially through a painful situation, a loss, or harsh treatment from others.
The thought of selling her childhood home anguished Sofia more than she expected.
transitive: direct object 'Sofia'
Watching his son struggle with a rare illness anguished Liam every single day.
The uncertainty of the test results anguished the family for nearly two weeks.
文法句型
anguish + noun phrase
be anguished + by + noun phrase
用法筆記
This transitive use is very rare in modern English — you are far more likely to see the adjective 'anguished' ('an anguished cry') or the noun. When the transitive verb does appear, the subject is usually an event or situation, not a person deliberately causing pain.