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

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
The girl’s father, identified as Robert Ranco, claims that the school didn’t discipline any of the students involved in his daughter’s torment.

— breanna edwards, The Root, "Racist Bullies at Texas Middle School Called Black Girl an Ape, Pretended to Whip Her Like a Slave, but School Does Nothing, Father Says," 5 June 2017
Syrian jets once again torment civilians from the airbase Trump bombed.

— daniel benaim, New Republic, "What We Know About Donald Trump’s Middle East Policy," 19 May 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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

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

A shortage of homes for sale has tormented U.S. house hunters in recent years, so why don’t builders build more?

— Bloomberg.com, "Your Evening Briefing," 22 May 2017
No matter how many pretend eggs your child pretend-buys, that list will remain, tormenting them forever.

— molly fitzpatrick, Bon Appetit, "These Extravagant Kid Play Kitchens Are Nicer Than Ours," 8 May 2017

First Known Use of torment

14th century

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