torment

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noun tor·ment \ ˈtȯr-ˌment \

Definition of torment

1 :extreme pain or anguish of body or mind :agony

2 :a source of vexation or pain

3 :the infliction of torture (as by rack or wheel)

See torment defined for English-language learners

See torment defined for kids

Examples of torment in a Sentence

No one could understand his inner torment.
After years of torment, she left her husband.
The mosquitoes were a constant torment.

Recent Examples of torment from the Web

The physical torment Russell endured in previous games gives him some leeway when analyzing those duds.

— matt calkins, The Seattle Times, "If the Seahawks are going to be Super Bowl contenders, Russell Wilson must produce," 21 Aug. 2017
The amount of moisture in the air, responsible for the severest torments of a typical summer day in Washington, remained in check.

— martin weil, Washington Post, "The verdict is in: Saturday’s weather was ‘amazing’," 5 Aug. 2017
And that dynamic causes perpetual torment. Because what are the options?

— ezra dyer, Car and Driver, "The Shart of the Deal: I Keep Killing Killer Used-Car Deals," 19 July 2017
But the Rangers didn’t want to risk more salary cap torment by giving too many years to Shattenkirk.

— kevin allen, USA TODAY, "NHL free agency 2017: Winners, losers from early frenzy," 1 July 2017
In these works the inner torments of the creator, the consequences of his fatal internal split, are examined.

— leilah bernstein, Los Angeles Magazine, "This Ballet About Tchaikovsky Reveals the Composer’s Talent and Torment," 23 June 2017
Overseas travel has introduced me to the wonders of electronic Japanese washlets and the torment of squat toilets.

— rachel linhart, Good Housekeeping, "Confessions of an Unabashed Toilet Seat Sitter," 19 June 2017
Often, Stevens’s tales of betrayal and brutal violence between gods don’t really feel like myths at all, and the chaos of the music around him can seem equal parts fanciful sound experiment and depiction of psychic torment.

— spencer kornhaber, The Atlantic, "A Musical Voyage Through the Solar System, Darkly," 8 June 2017
The torments inflicted on gay men are designed to humiliate as well as physically harm them.

— john dalhuisen, Time, "But gay Chechens do exist. They are real, and they are in desperate need of real help.," 5 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'torment.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of torment

Middle English, from Anglo-French turment, torment, from Latin tormentum torture; akin to torquēre to twist — more at ¹torture

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First Known Use: 14th century

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torment Synonyms

Synonyms

agony, Gehenna, horror, misery, murder, nightmare, hell, torture

Antonyms

heaven, paradise

Related Words

affliction, calvary, cross, curse, ordeal, trial, tribulation; calamity, misfortune, tragedy; gall, thorn; bummer, downer, drag

Near Antonyms

delight, diversion, entertainment, fun, joy, pleasure, recreation; lark, picnic, riot

torment

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verb tor·ment \ tȯr-ˈment , ˈtȯr-ˌ \

Definition of torment

transitive verb

1 :to cause severe usually persistent or recurrent distress of body or mind to

cattle tormented by flies

2 :distort, twist

See torment defined for English-language learners

Examples of torment in a Sentence

Not knowing where she was tormented him.
he was tormented by nightmares about the accident

Recent Examples of torment from the Web

The popular retro story resumes Oct. 27 in mid-1980s Hawkins, Ind., where a supernatural evil apparently has moved on from tormenting young Will Byers to threaten the entire (fictional) town.

— liz biro, Indianapolis Star, "10 new things Indy arts and pop culture geeks should check out this fall," 28 Aug. 2017
This weekend 40 of the best hot sauce makers in the country will be giving out samples at the third annual California Hot Sauce Expo, and that’s enough hot sauce to torment even the toughest tongue.

— lisa beebe, Los Angeles Magazine, "The Hot Sauce Expo Is This Weekend, and We Need All the Endorphins We Can Get Right Now," 16 Aug. 2017
And incidentally, tormenting the parents of Sandy Hook should fundamentally get you into the Satanic club.

— laura bradley, vanityfair.com, "John Oliver Rips Human Tanning Bed Scaramucci, Goes Deep on Alex Jones," 31 July 2017
And incidentally, tormenting the parents of Sandy Hook should fundamentally get you into the Satanic club.

— laura bradley, HWD, "John Oliver Rips Human Tanning Bed Scaramucci, Goes Deep on Alex Jones," 31 July 2017
In the lead up to UFC 189, when McGregor was originally slated to fight then-featherweight champion Jose Aldo, McGregor tormented him over the course of a world tour.

— mike dyce, SI.com, "Thursday Tap Out: Mayweather-McGregor tour helps fans forget about UFC 213 malaise," 13 July 2017
Across the country, the data shows, there has been a steep increase in opioid addiction disease diagnosis, a public health trend that is tormenting the nation.

— terry demio, Cincinnati.com, "Kentucky has most opioid-dependent patients with private insurance," 19 June 2017
People like Lucy Richards, who torment victims of violent crime by denying and mocking their pain are a sad reality.

— paula mcmahon, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Five months in prison for woman who sent death threats to dad of Sandy Hook victim," 7 June 2017
Two other guards had been released earlier after being tormented and beaten by inmates.

— crimesider staff, CBS News, "Post-riot review finds Delaware prison poorly run, managed," 2 June 2017

First Known Use of torment

14th century

torment Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of torment

afflict, try, torment, torture, rack mean to inflict on a person something that is hard to bear. afflict is a general term and applies to the causing of pain or suffering or of acute annoyance, embarrassment, or any distress.

- ills that afflict the elderly

try suggests imposing something that strains the powers of endurance or of self-control.

- children often try their parents' patience

torment suggests persecution or the repeated inflicting of suffering or annoyance.

- a horse tormented by flies

torture adds the implication of causing unbearable pain or suffering.

- tortured by a sense of guilt

rack stresses straining or wrenching.

- a body racked by pain

TORMENT Defined for English Language Learners

torment

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noun

Definition of torment for English Language Learners

: extreme physical or mental pain
: something that causes extreme physical or mental pain

torment

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verb

Definition of torment for English Language Learners

: to cause (someone or something) to feel extreme physical or mental pain

TORMENT Defined for Kids

torment

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verb tor·ment \ tȯr-ˈment \

Definition of torment for Students

tormented; tormenting

1 :to cause severe suffering of body or mind to

Flies tormented the cattle.

2 :vex 1, harass

All last year we tormented Webb. Mostly little stuff, like messing with his locker …
—Jerry Spinelli, Crash

torment

play

noun tor·ment \ ˈtȯr-ˌment \

Definition of torment for Students

1 :extreme pain or distress of body or mind

2 :a cause of suffering in mind or body The waiting was torment.

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See words that rhyme with torment Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for torment Spanish Central: Translation of torment Nglish: Translation of torment for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of torment for Arabic speakers

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TORMENT Defined for English Language Learners

torment

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TORMENT Defined for Kids

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