anguishing
Inflicting severe distress
Anguishing describes something that causes severe mental or emotional suffering, or the act of experiencing such torment.
An anguishing decision tears at someone forced to make it.
The family spent anguishing weeks waiting for news.
The word emphasizes prolonged, intense distress rather than brief pain.
Intensely painful or distressing
- excruciatingCausing extreme suffering
- torturousCausing extreme pain
- harrowingExtremely distressing or disturbing
- wrenchingForceful turning or yanking
heartbreaking · devastating · gut-wrenching · heartrending · tormenting · distressing · painful · unbearable
Intense prolonged craving
- piningAching with prolonged desire
- cravingPowerful urge to have
- achingExperiencing dull pain
- wistfulSadly longing for something
nostalgic · homesick · lovelorn · heartsick · languishing · desiring · hungering · thirsting
Period following loss
- bereavedDeprived by death
- grievingFeeling sorrow after loss
- lamentingExpressing passionate grief
- inconsolableUnable to be comforted
heartbroken · bereft · sorrowful · mournful · despairing · desolate · weeping · wailing
Caused intense suffering
- hauntedOccupied by ghosts
- plaguedPersistently afflicted
- obsessingThinking about compulsively
- ruminatingThinking deeply, repeatedly
brooding · wrestling · struggling · conflicted · torn · troubled · turmoil · sleepless
agonizing
Intensely painful or distressing
- excruciatingCausing extreme suffering
- torturousCausing extreme pain
- harrowingExtremely distressing or disturbing
wrenching · heartbreaking · devastating · gut-wrenching · heartrending · tormenting · distressing · painful · unbearable · overwhelming
yearning
Intense prolonged craving
wistful · nostalgic · homesick · lovelorn · heartsick · languishing · desiring · hungering · thirsting · hoping
mourning
Period following loss
inconsolable · heartbroken · bereft · sorrowful · mournful · despairing · desolate · weeping · wailing · keening
tortured
Caused intense suffering
ruminating · brooding · wrestling · struggling · conflicted · torn · troubled · turmoil · sleepless · restless
writhing
Twisting the body convulsively
- groaningEmitting deep, pained sounds
- moaningProlonged sound of distress
- convulsingShaking uncontrollably, involuntarily
throes · agony · spasms · wincing · grimacing · suffering · enduring · bearing · racked · seized
anguishingpleasing
Causing enjoyment or satisfaction
pleasant · delightful · joyful · gratifying · blissful
anguishingsoothing
Reducing distress or discomfort
comforting · reassuring · calming · consoling · relieving
anger, anxiety, anxious, anguish, anguished, anguishes, angina