A sudden sharp feeling:
— Pangs of regret.

synonyms: stab, twinge.

Roget 378: pain; suffering, sufferance, suffrance^†; bodily pain, physical pain, bodily suffering, physical suffering, body pain; mental suffering etc. 828; dolour, ache; aching etc. v.; smart; shoot, shooting; twinge, twitch, gripe, headache, stomach ache, heartburn, angina, angina pectoris [Lat.]; hurt, cut; sore, soreness; discomfort, malaise; cephalalgia [Med.], earache, gout, ischiagra^†, lumbago, neuralgia, odontalgia^†, otalgia^†, podagra^†, rheumatism, sciatica; tic douloureux [Fr.], toothache, tormina^†, torticollis^†.    spasm, cramp; nightmare, ephialtes^†; crick, stitch; thrill, convulsion, throe; throb etc. (agitation) 315; pang; colic; kink.    sharp pain, piercing pain, throbbing pain, shooting pain, sting, gnawing pain, burning pain; excruciating pain.    anguish, agony; torment, torture; rack; cruciation^†, crucifixion; martyrdom, toad under a harrow, vivisection.    ... show more

Roget 828: mental suffering, pain, dolor; suffering, sufferance; ache, smart etc. (physical pain) 378; passion.    displeasure, dissatisfaction, discomfort, discomposure, disquiet; malaise; inquietude, uneasiness, vexation of spirit; taking; discontent etc. 832.    dejection etc. 837; weariness etc. 841; anhedonia^†.    annoyance, irritation, worry, infliction, visitation; plague, bore; bother, botheration; stew, vexation, mortification, chagrin, esclandre [Fr.]; mauvais quart d'heur [Fr.].    care, anxiety, solicitude, trouble, trial, ordeal, fiery ordeal, shock, blow, cark^†, dole, fret, burden, load.    concern, grief, sorrow, distress, affliction, woe, bitterness, heartache; carking cares; heavy heart, aching heart, bleeding heart, broken heart; heavy affliction, gnawing grief.    unhappiness, infelicity, misery, tribulation, wretchedness, desolation; despair etc. 859; extremity, prostration, depth of misery.    nightmare, ephialtes^†, incubus.    pang, anguish, agony; torture, torment; purgatory etc. (hell) 982.    hell upon earth; iron age, reign of terror; slough of despond etc. (adversity) 735; peck of troubles; ills that flesh is heir to" etc. (evil) 619 [Hamlet]; miseries of human life; unkindest cut of all" [Julius Caesar]. sufferer, victim, prey, martyr, object of compassion, wretch, shorn lamb.    ... show more

A mental pain or distress:
— A pang of conscience.

synonym: sting.

A sharp spasm of pain.