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angustia

anguish

noun ahn-GOOS-tyah Rare
Mind & Emotions Emotions

Origin: from Latin angustia, 'narrowness, strait'

Also means

distress

Usage Note

Angustia conveys a deep, oppressive anxiety — more intense than preocupación (worry) and more physical than ansiedad (anxiety). It often implies a feeling of constriction or tightness in the chest. The verb angustiar means to cause anguish; the reflexive angustiarse means to feel it. The adjective angustiante (distressing) is common in journalism.

Examples

"Sentía una angustia enorme antes del examen."

Natural Translation

She felt enormous anguish before the exam.

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