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tormenting 1 of 2

adjective

1
as in painful
hard to accept or bear especially emotionally it was a tormenting moment as they helplessly watched the other team score in the final seconds of the game

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in torturing
intensely or unbearably painful a tormenting injury

Synonyms & Similar Words

tormenting

2 of 2

verb

present participle of torment
as in plaguing
to cause persistent suffering to he was tormented by nightmares about the accident

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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 tormenting
Verb
The migraine tormenting the 32-year-old in April was even worse than usual. — Washington Post, 27 Sep. 2026 Of the many thoughts tormenting Víctor Eduardo is how Julio died. — Claire Healy, Miami Herald, 11 Sep. 2026 Aside from tormenting the sole out transgender member of Congress by waging a campaign to bar her from using the women’s bathroom in the Capitol, Mace had been a side player that year. — Annie Karni, Vogue, 6 Aug. 2026 The final scene shows the Bowden family grilling in that same backyard on a sunny day, seemingly happy with Max no longer tormenting them. — Benjamin Vanhoose, PEOPLE, 31 July 2026 Picture LeBron in his advanced age tormenting the Knicks one more time, denying them a two-peat, before beating the Spurs or Thunder in the finals. — Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 30 July 2026 Aemond raves about his horrible older brother who spent their youth tormenting him. — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026 But your dad doesn’t need to be a celeb to enjoy the simple pleasures of tormenting him. — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 9 July 2026 Rumor has it that Steve Spurrier could be the favorite, which would be hilarious given Spurrier's history of tormenting the Vols. — Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 16 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tormenting
  1. painful
  2. wrenching
  3. plaguing
  4. cruel
  5. torturous
  6. persecuting
  7. harsh
  8. agonizing
Adjective
  • The story follows Ramón, a film assistant reeling from a painful breakup, who begins working with Camille de Valois, a legendary French actress returning to cinema after two decades away following an accusation of murder.
    — Callum McLennan, Variety, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Still, there are good reasons Trump may be holding back, not least to avoid opening a potentially painful second front, just seven months after launching his damaging and ongoing conflict with Iran.
    — Matthew Chance, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of painful
Adjective
  • The wrenching, heartbreaking testimony echoed through the Congressional hearing room, pulling listeners back to the raw moments of January when Good and Alex Pretti were killed.
    — WCCO Staff, CBS News, 22 Sep. 2026
  • The emotionally wrenching case, marked by excruciating testimony and Clancy’s paralysis after a suicide attempt, has intensified scrutiny of maternal mental health and Massachusetts’ standard for criminal responsibility.
    — Leah Willingham, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of wrenching
Verb
  • Warren’s attempt to suppress the procession exemplifies the sort of religious prejudices plaguing Italian communities during that period.
    — Clare Whitton, The Conversation, 17 Sep. 2026
  • But to Molland, many of their struggles aren’t that different from those plaguing modern couples.
    — Marta Balaga, Variety, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of plaguing
Adjective
  • In the book, MacLachlan recalls being utterly dumbfounded at having been asked to do something so oblivious at best and cruel at worst.
    — Rachel Brodsky, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Many of them, including Ned and his childhood friend and rival, Roland, are scarred by their time as youth players, haunted by memories of the sadistic coaches and cruel, competitive fathers who terrorized them both on and off the court.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of cruel
Adjective
  • In a wartorn country where air travel is too perilous to even consider, the roads are the obvious option, but are jammed, precarious, and cursed with long, torturous border queues.
    — Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Legal experts say those costs reflect the challenges that corrections officials face in finding help with carrying out lethal injections, which can subject prisoners to torturous levels of pain.
    — Max Blau, ProPublica, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of torturous
Verb
  • Biden weaponized Law Enforcement against his political opponent, while also persecuting many other innocent people.
    — New York Times, New York Times, 11 June 2026
  • Jack Hayford, the founder of the King’s University, in Texas, claimed that the film was persecuting Christians, who only wanted to be treated equally.
    — Isaac Butler, New Yorker, 30 May 2026
Definition of persecuting
Adjective
  • This has been complicated further by the Iran war energy shock which is a harsh wake-up call for Southeast Asia.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Even when used on its own, bleach is incredibly harsh and can strip your floors’ finish, leaving it vulnerable to damage, discoloration, and dullness over time.
    — Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of harsh
Adjective
  • Of course, Kiffin left, a bitter and acrimonious separation that played out over 14 agonizing days, just as the Rebels prepped for their first College Football Playoff game in history.
    — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2026
  • The brazen and agonizing theft of 88 million euros ($102 million) worth of crown jewels from display cases in the Louvre's Apollo gallery served as a wake-up call.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of agonizing

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tormenting
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Cite this Entry

“Tormenting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tormenting. Accessed 29 Sep. 2026.

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