Pang

Pang is a noun in English describing a sudden, sharp sensation or feeling. It can refer to a brief physical pain, such as a pang in the chest or stomach, or to a sudden emotional experience, such as a pang of guilt, remorse, hunger, or nostalgia. The term emphasizes the abrupt onset and fleeting nature of the sensation.

Etymology and usage notes: The word dates back to Middle English, and its deeper origins are not easily traced. It is primarily used as a noun, with the plural form pangs describing multiple such sensations. While rare, the term can appear in literary or rhetorical contexts to convey immediacy and intensity more compactly than phrases like “a sharp feeling” or “a sudden pain.”

Common contexts and examples: Physical pangs include hunger pangs or a pang of pain after an injury. Emotional pangs are described in contexts of guilt, longing, homesickness, or remorse. Examples: “He felt a pang of hunger.” “A pang of nostalgia swept over her.” “Guilt sent a pang of remorse through him.”

Related terms: Pang is closely related to synonyms such as twinge, ache, pinch, sting, and ache-like sensations in both physical and emotional senses. It is widely used in everyday language, as well as in literature and journalism, to convey a brief, pointed moment of discomfort or feeling.