pang
Americannoun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of pang
First recorded in 1495–1505; origin uncertain
Explanation
A pang is a sharp jab or an intense hurt that comes on suddenly. If you've felt an all-of-a-sudden, deep sadness that seems to hit you even in the back of the eyes, you've probably had a pang of emotion over a loss or a tragic story. You can feel a physical pain or pang right when you get hurt, or you might suffer a pang of guilt that keeps popping up if you don't own up to something bad. Pang sounds close to pain, and it is pain, but it has a sharper edge — it's intense and comes on fast. A childbirth pain often is called a pang, because it's such a unique type of hurting. Having a pang of regret can be almost as sharp.
Vocabulary lists containing pang
Where the Red Fern Grows
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Maus I: My Father Bleeds History
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Unit 1: Telling Details
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
And that’s perfectly OK for them, because they won’t suffer a pang of guilt because of their decision, and they won’t actually feel better about accepting the $150 if they give half of it away.
From MarketWatch ● Apr. 7, 2026
At first, even he felt a momentary pang of caution.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 10, 2026
It’s his first pang of guilt, the first time he understands that his needs are not the only ones that matter.
From Salon ● Nov. 16, 2025
When the cast was announced for the films back in the early 2000s, I remember feeling a pang of jealousy – Emma Watson was fine, but wasn't I the real Hermione Granger?
From BBC ● May 31, 2025
Ekon watched with a small pang as they bowed in respect, then scampered off without another word.
From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray
The mother of one brings her son food overnight to ease his hunger pangs.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 20, 2026
"We are suffering the pangs of growth because India knows how to handle poverty, not prosperity."
From Barron's ● Nov. 27, 2025
We watched her take the medication, then experience what followed: painful cramping, pangs of guilt, waves of relief and the realization she now bore a new, lifelong emotional scar that wasn’t caused by her mother.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 20, 2025
If you’re feeling pangs of financial anxiety, here is a primer on financial therapy and how it can help.
From Salon ● Apr. 27, 2025
Fig’s empty food dish stared at me from the floor, piling on more pangs of guilt.
From "Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence" by Sonja Thomas
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.