1. causing extreme mental or emotional pain; deeply distressing

Examples

• The anguishing wait for news about her missing son lasted three days.
• He made the anguishing decision to end his father’s life support.
• The documentary showed anguishing scenes of poverty and suffering.
• It was anguishing to watch her struggle with the terminal illness.
• The mother’s anguishing cries could be heard throughout the hospital.
• The anguishing memories of the accident haunted him for years.