an·guish /ˈaNGɡwiSH/ Learn to pronounce noun 1. severe mental or physical pain or suffering. "she shut her eyes in anguish" synonyms: agony, pain, torment, torture, suffering, distress, angst, misery, sorrow, grief, heartache, heartbreak, wretchedness, unhappiness, woe, desolation, despair; More verb 1. be extremely distressed about something. "he anguished over how to reply" Love, the most wonderful feeling in the world, As well as the most painful "I was in anguish"