torturous

adjective

tor·​tur·​ous ˈtȯrch-rəs How to pronounce torturous (audio)
ˈtȯr-chə-
1
a
: very unpleasant or painful
a torturous day
torturous self-doubts
b
: causing torture
torturous inquisitions
2
: painfully difficult or slow
the torturous course of the negotiations
torturously adverb

Examples of torturous in a Sentence

relatives had to make the torturous decision to disconnect the patient's life-support system the post-infection treatment for rabies was as notoriously torturous as the disease itself
Recent Examples on the Web The game had dribbled away and cricket has a way of extending the agony of the vanquished in torturous slow motion. Tim Ellis, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024 The bill’s passage followed almost five months of torturous negotiations over an expansive bill that would have paired the foreign aid with an overhaul of border and asylum policies. TIME, 13 Feb. 2024 No sense of some torturous inner dialogue pulling him from the foolishness of this game show. Michael Andor Brodeur, Washington Post, 12 Feb. 2024 Editorial: Applying for financial aid to college shouldn’t be this torturous. Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 16 Feb. 2024 Lethal gas, too, was adopted and eventually fell out of favor because of its torturous effects on prisoners and the likeness to the Holocaust. Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY, 25 Jan. 2024 Clocking in at just under two hours, Audition uses barely-simmering tension to propel itself toward a finale that is torturous to watch (in the best way possible). Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 23 Oct. 2023 Families called it a bittersweet verdict after a ‘torturous’ journey. Aaron Boxerman, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2023 His game-winner saved what would have been a disastrous end for these Celtics, whose 0-6 record in crunch-time games this postseason appeared on the verge of getting one final, torturous chapter. Adam Himmelsbach, BostonGlobe.com, 28 May 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'torturous.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Time Traveler
The first known use of torturous was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near torturous

Cite this Entry

“Torturous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/torturous. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

torturous

adjective
tor·​tur·​ous ˈtȯrch-(ə-)rəs How to pronounce torturous (audio)
: causing great pain
torturously adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on torturous

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