ANGUISHING Synonyms: 136 Similar and Opposite Words

anguishing

verb

present participle of anguish

as in plaguing

to cause persistent suffering to she was anguished by the fear that her sons would die in the war

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in grieving

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of anguishing Hong Kong is an anguishing example. — Michelle Kuo, The Dial, 14 Apr. 2026 Especially for someone whose entire adult life has been immersed in the adrenaline-infusion of coaching — from its exhilarating highs and anguishing lows to simply always being in the middle of so much. — Kansas City Star, 1 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for anguishing

Verb

This comes at a time when existential fiscal anxiety has been plaguing Americans.

— Sean Conlon, CNBC, 3 July 2026
The other factor that Mercedes needs to consider is that reliability issue that’s plaguing itself and its customer teams.

— Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 27 June 2026

Definition of plaguing

Verb

Sixty years later, young Alma Singer begins searching for the writer of her mother’s favorite book, hoping to bring romance to her grieving parent.

— The Know, Denver Post, 5 July 2026
The movie follows Gugino as a grieving woman who takes in her troubled nephew, but their lives are upended when an otherworldly entity begins hunting him.

— Scott Huver, PEOPLE, 4 July 2026

Definition of grieving

Verb

Cholera, a waterborne bacterial disease, has unleashed a perilous wave across southern Africa, with active outbreaks currently afflicting five countries in southern and central Africa.

— John Drake, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
Never mind the economic turbulence afflicting the country and the world, driven most recently by rising gas prices because of the war in Iran.

— Stephen Hudak, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 May 2026

Definition of afflicting

Verb

But after a long day on the slopes, your aching limbs might need a cooldown, which is where the home’s sizable indoor pool comes in.

— Bailey Berg, Architectural Digest, 26 June 2026
The band's retro-modern blend of sierreño and corridos tumbados put a next-gen spin on traditional Mexican music, layering Pedro's aching vocals over lush arrangements of acoustic guitar and soulful horns.

— Edward Segarra, USA Today, 25 June 2026

Definition of aching

Verb

Biden weaponized Law Enforcement against his political opponent, while also persecuting many other innocent people.

— New York Times, New York Times, 11 June 2026
Jack Hayford, the founder of the King’s University, in Texas, claimed that the film was persecuting Christians, who only wanted to be treated equally.

— Isaac Butler, New Yorker, 30 May 2026

Definition of persecuting

Verb

While Sinlaku didn’t cause on deaths on land, Propst said residents were still mourning the six crewmembers of a cargo ship that overturned during the typhoon.

— ABC News, ABC News, 2 July 2026
While Freddy was in Boston mourning Germany’s defeat, online sleuths excavated the least-savory tidbits from his X posting history.

— Will Oremus, The Atlantic, 1 July 2026

Definition of mourning

Verb

What unfolds is a unique horror story that is unbelievably entertaining, psychologically torturing and incredibly fun.

— David Hookstead OutKick, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2026
Henry Bernard Montgomery, 38, was arraigned Monday afternoon on one count of third-degree killing/torturing animals and given a $20,000 bond with a GPS tether.

— Joseph Buczek, CBS News, 22 June 2026

Definition of torturing

Verb

The internet may be full of people who want to outlaw leaf blowers, but misophonic triggers tend to share a bodily quality, an aurally traceable culprit such as a person crunching or sighing.

— Sloane Crosley, New Yorker, 8 June 2026
Also, remember that the avatar is reading your body language, eye contact, any kind of sighing or moaning.

— Phil Blair, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 June 2026

Definition of sighing

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“Anguishing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anguishing. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of anguishing

verb

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