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Anguish vs Wistful - What's the difference?

anguish | wistful |

As a noun anguish

is extreme pain, either of body or mind; excruciating distress.

As a verb anguish

is to suffer pain.

As an adjective wistful is

full of yearning or longing.

anguish

English

Noun

  • Extreme pain, either of body or mind; excruciating distress.
  • * Bible, Exodus vi. 9
    • But they hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage.
  • * Latimer
    • Ye miserable people, you must go to God in anguishes , and make your prayer to him.
  • * 1889 , :
    • A terrible scream—a prolonged yell of horror and anguish —burst out of the silence of the moor. That frightful cry turned the blood to ice in my veins.

    Synonyms

    * agony, calvary, cross, pang, torture, torment * See also:

    Related terms

    () * agnail, hangnail * anger * angst * anxiety * anxious * terminal anguish

    Verb

    (es)
  • To suffer pain.
  • * (rfdate) 1900s , Kl. Knigge, Iceland Folk Song , traditional, Harmony: H. Ruland
    • We’re leaving these shores for our time has come, the days of our youth must now end. The hearts bitter anguish , it burns for the home that we’ll never see again.
  • To cause to suffer pain.

    • External links

    * *

    wistful

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • full of yearning or longing
    • His eyes grew wistful as he recalled his university days.
  • sad and thoughtful

    • Synonyms

    * (thoughtful sadness) (l)

    References