pang
n. countable C1 Advanced US //ˈpæŋ// UK //pˈæŋ// pang
n. a sudden, sharp feeling of pain or a strong emotion like guilt or hunger. It usually lasts for a short time but feels very intense.
n. a sudden sharp feeling of emotional or physical distress. Often used to describe brief, acute sensations of hunger, guilt, or regret.
She felt a sudden pang of guilt for forgetting his birthday.
As the sun began to set, he felt a sharp pang of hunger and realized he hadn't eaten since breakfast.
Standing before her childhood home, she was struck by a sudden pang of nostalgia that made the intervening decades seem to vanish in an instant.
Usage
Frequently appears in the construction 'a pang of [emotion/sensation]'.