Angustiar

Angustiar is a Spanish verb whose central meaning is to cause distress, worry, or anxiety in someone, or to torment emotionally. It is transitive and commonly used with a direct object: for example, “La noticia angustió a todos.” The reflexive form angustiarse means to become distressed or to feel anxious: “Se angustian ante la incertidumbre.” The verb can express a range of emotional pressure from concern to agitation.

Etymology and nuance: Angustiar derives from angustia, which comes from Late Latin angustia and ultimately from Latin angustus meaning narrow or tight. The figurative sense ties distress to a constriction of the mind or emotions. The noun angustia (anguish, distress, anxiety) and related adjectives such as angustiado are closely connected.

Usage and conjugation: Angustiar is a regular -ar verb, following standard conjugation patterns in all tenses. In the present tense: yo angustio, tú angustias, él angustia, nosotros angust we ¿angustiamos? (Note: standard forms apply; the entry emphasizes regular behavior rather than exhaustive tables.) The preterite forms include angustié, angustiaste, angustió, angustiamos, angustiasteis, angustiaron; imperfect: angustiaba, angustiabas, angustiaba, angustiábamos, angustiabais, angustiaban. It is common to say “me angustia” or “la situación me angustia,” with the subject provoking the feeling, while “angustiar” can also describe actions that cause distress to others.

See also: angustia (noun), angustiado (adjective).