anguish
Agony of spirit
Anguish is intense emotional or mental suffering—the kind that feels unbearable.
It suggests torment deeper than ordinary pain or grief: the anguish of losing a child, She watched in anguish as the house burned.
The verb means to suffer or cause such distress: He anguished over the decision for weeks.
Sustained experience of distress
- heartacheDeep emotional distress
- sorrowDeep emotional distress
- griefIntense sorrow from loss
- woeGreat sorrow or distress
misery · despair · torment · agony · desolation · wretchedness · distress · heartbreak
Lasting psychological wound
- distressSevere anxiety or suffering
- angstDeep unfocused worry
- dreadIntense anticipatory fear
- turmoilViolent disturbance or confusion
breakdown · desperation · hysteria · panic · neurosis · agitation · crisis · torment
Intense sorrow from loss
- mourningPeriod following loss
- bereavementState following loss
- sorrowDeep emotional distress
- heartacheDeep emotional distress
bereft · grieving · tears · loss · funeral · condolence · eulogy · widow
Bodily or emotional distress
- throesIntense painful struggles
- agonyExtreme physical or emotional pain
- tortureDeliberate infliction of suffering
- excruciatingCausing extreme suffering
suffering · pang · convulsion · writhing · spasm · ache · torment · racking
Deliberate infliction of suffering
- oppressionUnjust exercise of power
- persecutionSystematic mistreatment of groups
- crueltyDeliberate harm-causing disposition
- victimizationBeing made to suffer
abuse · mistreatment · ordeal · martyrdom · suffering · affliction · inquisition · captivity
Total absence of hope
- hopelessnessState without hope
- nihilismRejection of objective meaning
- meaninglessnessLack of significance
- emptinessAbsence of substance
bleakness · futility · alienation · absurdity · void · darkness · abyss · nothingness
suffering
Sustained experience of distress
woe · misery · despair · torment · agony · desolation · wretchedness · distress · heartbreak · dolor
trauma
Lasting psychological wound
turmoil · breakdown · desperation · hysteria · panic · neurosis · agitation · crisis · torment · paranoia
grief
Intense sorrow from loss
- mourningPeriod following loss
- bereavementState following loss
- sorrowDeep emotional distress
heartache · bereft · grieving · tears · loss · funeral · condolence · eulogy · widow · orphan
pain
Bodily or emotional distress
- throesIntense painful struggles
- agonyExtreme physical or emotional pain
- tortureDeliberate infliction of suffering
excruciating · suffering · pang · convulsion · writhing · spasm · ache · torment · racking · searing
torture
Deliberate infliction of suffering
- oppressionUnjust exercise of power
- persecutionSystematic mistreatment of groups
- crueltyDeliberate harm-causing disposition
victimization · abuse · mistreatment · ordeal · martyrdom · suffering · affliction · inquisition · captivity · brutality
despair
Total absence of hope
- hopelessnessState without hope
- nihilismRejection of objective meaning
- meaninglessnessLack of significance
emptiness · bleakness · futility · alienation · absurdity · void · darkness · abyss · nothingness · desolation
- griefgrief, mourning, bereavement, sorrow, grieving
- inner turmoilinner turmoil, inner conflict, inner struggle, self-doubt, indecision
- Biblical Sufferingaffliction, agony, Job, lament, lamentation
- faith crisisfaith crisis, doubt, questioning faith, spiritual struggle, religious doubt
- Hellhellfire, brimstone, lake of fire, eternal fire, perdition
- mental turmoildistress, turmoil, inner turmoil, emotional pain, torment
anguishpeace
Freedom from disturbance
serenity · tranquility · solace · comfort · contentment
- mental anguishSevere psychological distress
- in anguish
- anguished cryVocalized intense distress
- deep anguish
- spiritual anguishInner suffering of being