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pang

pang

28 5.6
A sudden sharp pain that is often a quick feeling of guilt or sadness
  • noun
  • /pæŋ/
translation icon : punzada
  • After hearing the news, she felt a pang of sadness for her friend.
  • pangs of conscience
  • pangs of hunger

If you are hungry, you feel hunger pangs, so you eat.

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Examples

  • Not a word was said, but they all felt the sharp, bittersweet pang of coming home.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • Their crooked paths lead to the grave; their passions to the pangs of death.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • There always has to be that pang of doubt.

  • So when you feel a pang of loneliness, I want you to understand.

  • I hate to tell you this, but that pang of guilt you may feel.

  • "Joshua noted the look in Lydia's eyes and felt a pang of disappointment."

    Fiction book (1990)
  • I feel only a faint pang of shame for exploiting my daughters' rivalry.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Perrin felt a sudden intolerable pang; what was he casting away?

    Fiction book (1992)
  • Now, however, Krug is free of the pangs of guilt, free of pain, and free of the yoke of responsibility.

    Academic text (2016)
  • Even when praying and concentrating on the crucified Lord, she experienced pangs of conscience.

    Fiction book (1995)

Synonyms

sting
vspang
21 4.2

A sharp feeling of sadness or hurt after an unkind act

is broader and includes physical or various emotional pains too
twinge
vspang
17 4.9

A sudden sharp pain in the body or a quick strong feeling in the mind

is a stronger sudden feeling rather than a mild one
stab
vspang
8 3.5

A sudden sharp feeling, often of pain or strong emotion

lasts as a sharp or strong feeling that may be less momentary
1 5.0

A sudden sharp feeling of guilt

covers sudden sharp feelings across many emotions, not just guilt

Antonyms

190 1.0

A feeling of physical ease and being free from pain

Compounds

A sudden sharp feeling of regret about something you did or did not do

A sudden sharp feeling of missing the past

A sudden strong feeling of being sorry for something you did

How Sharp

agony
135 3.9
pain
1.0
pang
28 5.6
twinge
17 4.9

Surface Forms

pang singular
pangs plural

Etymology

The word pang may be a short, sharp form of pain or a sound word for a quick jab, like a small 'shot' of hurt. So, a pang is that sudden sharp pain or sudden strong feeling such as guilt or sadness.