TORMENT Synonyms: 168 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'torment' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of torment are afflict , rack , torture , and try . While all these words mean "to inflict on a person something that is hard to bear," torment suggests persecution or the repeated inflicting of suffering or annoyance. // a horse tormented by flies

Q: Where would 'afflict' be a reasonable alternative to 'torment'?

While the synonyms afflict and torment are close in meaning, 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

Q: When could 'rack' be used to replace 'torment'?

The words rack and torment are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, rack stresses straining or wrenching. // a body racked by pain

Q: When is 'torture' a more appropriate choice than 'torment'?

In some situations, the words torture and torment are roughly equivalent. However, torture adds the implication of causing unbearable pain or suffering. // tortured by a sense of guilt

Q: When might 'try' be a better fit than 'torment'?

While in some cases nearly identical to torment , try suggests imposing something that strains the powers of endurance or of self-control. // children often try their parents' patience

torment 1 of 2

noun

ˈtȯr-ˌment

Definition of torment

as in agony

a situation or state that causes great suffering and unhappiness the released soldiers gave interviews trying to explain to civilians the torment that prisoners of war experience

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in distress

a state of great suffering of body or mind was in torment for weeks after he broke up with his girlfriend

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in demon

a source of persistent emotional distress insomnia that was caused by a host of nighttime torments

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torment

2 of 2

verb

tȯr-ˈment

as in to plague

to cause persistent suffering to he was tormented by nightmares about the accident

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word torment different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of torment are afflict, rack, torture, and try. While all these words mean "to inflict on a person something that is hard to bear," torment suggests persecution or the repeated inflicting of suffering or annoyance.

a horse tormented by flies

Where would afflict be a reasonable alternative to torment?

While the synonyms afflict and torment are close in meaning, 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

When could rack be used to replace torment?

The words rack and torment are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, rack stresses straining or wrenching.

a body racked by pain

When is torture a more appropriate choice than torment?

In some situations, the words torture and torment are roughly equivalent. However, torture adds the implication of causing unbearable pain or suffering.

tortured by a sense of guilt

When might try be a better fit than torment?

While in some cases nearly identical to torment, try suggests imposing something that strains the powers of endurance or of self-control.

children often try their parents' patience

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of torment

Noun

After weeks of torment, Shawn went into his bedroom one evening. — Rachel Heng, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026 Such a regime could attain its ends by making only a small number of opponents suffer physically while leaving the rest in psychological torment, wondering if or when the blow will fall. — Mark Lilla, The New York Review of Books, 29 Sep. 2026

Verb

The Russian strikes forcing the full or partial closure of three of Kyiv's six road bridges caused traffic logjams and appeared to be a new tactic in its campaign to torment the city's residents. — Hanna Arhirova, Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026 The Russian strikes forcing the full or partial closure of three of Kyiv’s six road bridges caused traffic logjams and appeared to be a new tactic in its campaign to torment the city’s residents. — ABC News, 2 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for torment

Recent Examples of Synonyms for torment

Noun

The prisoner in question, Doug Korpi, had also admitted that his agony was an act to journalist Ben Blum, who included the revelation in a broader takedown of the experiment published in 2018.

— Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2026
The daughters of burning witches were sometimes made to stand close to the pyre, being whipped by locals while watching their mothers die in agony.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of agony

Noun

The rise of self-harm influencers—people for whom demonstrating their distress online has become a source of income and validation—is a terrifying new development.

— Gavin Francis, The New York Review of Books, 24 Oct. 2026
CoreWeave, the leader of the pack, has seen spreads on its CDS widen past 11%, generally viewed as a distress level, as investors have to pay up for protection against default.

— Isabel O'Brien, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of distress

Verb

Minnesota lawmakers with broad bipartisan support this year approved a new watchdog agency tasked with fighting fraud that's plagued social services programs in the state for years.

— Caroline Cummings, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026
Previous administrations have been plagued by poor accountability on large-ticket projects, a problem the president’s critics say remains the case under Tinubu.

— Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of plague

Noun

People with large or overactive chewing muscles, often from clenching or grinding, who want to soften a bulky lower-face look or ease jaw pain.

— Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 26 Oct. 2026
Cayenne pepper contains capsaicin, which may lower inflammation and pain.

— Carrie Madormo, Verywell Health, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of pain

Noun

French President Emmanuel Macron called the shooting a racist terror attack, saying people were targeted due to their religion and the color of their skin.

— Mithil Aggarwal, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2026
Iran's proxy gang - the Yemeni terror group known as the Houthis - has recently killed civilians in Saudi Arabia with attacks on the airport.

— Brian Sullivan, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of terror

Verb

During this same time his father had vanished behind the Bamboo Curtain and was almost certainly persecuted, possibly even murdered, by the same Communists that Hoover claimed to be fighting.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Oct. 2026
Those governments provide assurances that people won’t be persecuted or tortured, federal attorneys said.

— Lindsay Whitehurst, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of persecute

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Tories

torment

tormented

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“Torment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/torment. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.

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