anguished
UK: ˈæŋɡwɪʃt | US: ˈæŋɡwɪʃt
adj. experiencing or expressing severe mental or physical pain or suffering
vt. (past tense) caused someone to feel extreme distress
The word "anguished" derives from the Old French "angoisse" (meaning "distress, anxiety"), which itself traces back to the Latin "angustia" (narrowness, tightness). The root "anguish" metaphorically conveys the feeling of being constricted by pain or sorrow. The suffix "-ed" marks it as a past participle or adjective, indicating a state of having endured suffering. This evolution reflects how physical tightness (Latin "angustia") transformed into emotional constriction in English.
Her anguished cry echoed through the empty hallway.
He wrote an anguished letter after the loss of his friend.
The anguished expression on her face revealed her inner turmoil.
The film portrays the anguished struggles of war refugees.
His voice was anguished as he recounted the accident.