1
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in distress
a state of great suffering of body or mind
was in torment for weeks after he broke up with his girlfriend
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to plague
to cause persistent suffering to
he was tormented by nightmares about the accident
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 30 Aug. 2025
In Aronofsky’s cinematic universe, the ability to endure physical punishment functions as a touchstone for power, and, in his best work, torment takes on an intensely intimate dimension, creating extreme contrast with the larger dramatic landscape on which the action is stretched.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 28 Aug. 2025
Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2025
The three of them — plus Mary Ellen’s crush Bob — are then tormented by the spirits raised by Annabelle.
—Emily Palmer Heller, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for torment
Noun
His icy, anguished eyes—though both are the same color—convey all the torment a misfit on Earth might feel.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 30 Aug. 2025
In Aronofsky’s cinematic universe, the ability to endure physical punishment functions as a touchstone for power, and, in his best work, torment takes on an intensely intimate dimension, creating extreme contrast with the larger dramatic landscape on which the action is stretched.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 28 Aug. 2025
Verb
He’s tormented and has his own personal issues.
—Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2025
The three of them — plus Mary Ellen’s crush Bob — are then tormented by the spirits raised by Annabelle.
—Emily Palmer Heller, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for torment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for torment
Noun
-
Hank, having already experienced life-changing failure, is also able to absorb beatings that would destroy most people, endure the agony, and leap back into action.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
28 Aug. 2025
-
The buddy story ended in agony when it was revealed that Edwards was on the list and complicit in the ambush plot.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
28 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Those with suicide ideation might attempt suicide, but these attempts often represent a desire to escape distress as opposed to end-of-life issues.—
Eric Wood,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
-
In Pennsylvania, lawmakers have still not broken out of the impasse, spelling financial distress for schools and counties that rely particularly heavily on state funding.—
Isabella Volmert,
Fortune,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
With the demon defeated and the haunting over, the Warrens get to experience something of a happily ever after, living to experience Judy’s wedding and see their daughter have her own baby.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Despite specifying various antics with pills, a belt-as-noose, and a gun, Cloud has given him no real demons to explore.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In 1988, a catastrophic heat wave and drought plagued the United States, killing thousands of people and triggering over $80 billion in damage.—
Zack Savitsky,
Quanta Magazine,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Getty Images The Department of Education posted a new update on Monday on massive application backlogs plaguing several federal student loan forgiveness and repayment programs.—
Adam S. Minsky,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The stage was set for another installment of Scott’s recurring nightmare.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
13 Sep. 2025
-
Pixels continue to receive OS upgrades months before Samsungs, a continuing nightmare for the brand.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The result is a universal film about the cyclicality of trauma and healing, about how people who’ve experienced trauma often choose to help others rather than confront their own pain—and the toll that can take.—
Travis Bean,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
-
These recent cost-of-living gyrations, however, don’t mitigate the financial pain of the worst bout of inflation in four decades.—
Jonathan Lansner,
Oc Register,
13 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Dallas police identified the suspect as Yordanis Cobos-Martinez, who is being held without bond on a charge of capital murder by terror threat.—
Nic F. Anderson,
CNN Money,
13 Sep. 2025
-
Perhaps, though, Kubrick's cold view of Jack and choice to diminish some of King's sympathetic nuances serve to heighten the terror; how much does knowing the complex motivations of a domestic abuser help their victims?—
James Grebey,
Time,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The former human-rights lawyer entered on a tourist visa and filed for political asylum in October of that year, claiming the governments that succeeded Correa were persecuting him.—
Syra Ortiz Blanes,
Miami Herald,
12 Sep. 2025
-
The decree eliminated many of the civil liberties in Germany, opening the way for the Nazis to persecute their opponents.—
The Editors,
JSTOR Daily,
9 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Torment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/torment. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share