Synonyms of tormenting

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• painful
• cruel
• torturous
• harsh
• agonizing
• hurtful
• bitter
• horrible
• excruciating
• terrible
• harrowing
• severe
• afflicting
• grievous
• galling
• unbearable
• unacceptable
• awful
• dreadful
• heartrending
• intolerable
• miserable
• insufferable
• unendurable
• bad
• vile
• insupportable
• intense
• appalling
• dire
• ghastly
• acute
• wretched
• nasty
• extreme
• rotten
• piercing
• unsupportable

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• gratifying
• pleasing
• sweet
• bearable
• tolerable
• endurable
• sustainable
• acceptable
• survivable
• supportable
• allowable
• livable
• reasonable
• sufferable

2

as in torturing

intensely or unbearably painful

a tormenting injury

Synonyms & Similar Words

• torturing
• wrenching
• torturous
• agonizing
• excruciating
• intense
• raging
• harrowing
• biting
• violent
• racking
• extreme
• acute
• fierce
• exquisite
• stabbing
• tearing
• penetrating
• shooting
• vehement
• stinging
• piercing
• cutting
• sharp
• tingling
• smarting

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• plaguing
• persecuting
• afflicting
• torturing
• besieging
• attacking
• cursing
• bothering
• bedeviling
• excruciating
• agonizing
• harrowing
• anguishing
• besetting
• racking
• stinging
• troubling
• harassing
• pursuing
• disturbing
• assailing
• pestering
• badgering
• aggravating
• hounding
• distressing
• striking
• oppressing
• annoying
• irritating
• dogging
• molesting
• exasperating
• trying
• worrying
• riding
• harrying
• upsetting
• bugging
• hurting
• agitating
• riling
• overwhelming
• grieving
• vexing
• discomforting
• tyrannizing
• perturbing
• nettling
• irking
• stressing
• stabbing
• victimizing
• disquieting
• griping
• chafing
• crushing
• smiting
• galling
• grating
• overpowering
• rasping
• straining
• piquing
• smarting
• flustering
• pricking
• getting
• putting out
• wringing
• paining
• peeving
• discomposing
• hagriding
• martyring
• panging

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• helping
• assisting
• aiding
• abetting
• relieving
• delivering
• releasing
• comforting
• consoling
• soothing
• contenting
• quieting
• solacing
• reprieving
• succoring

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of tormenting

Verb

This shift from just hating and tormenting Mozart, and expanding that rage against God and his own mediocrity is what makes this play so profound and distinctive. — Doni Wilson, Houston Chronicle, 30 Sep. 2026

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