1
as in nightmares
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 distresses
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
3
as in demons
a source of persistent emotional distress
insomnia that was caused by a host of nighttime torments
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in plagues
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 torments
Pat Beall,
Sun Sentinel,
17 Apr. 2026
In the face of such grave concerns, Alyoshka’s torments seem self-indulgent and frustrating, but his problem—whether to leave or stay—is far from insignificant.
—
Literary Hub,
25 Mar. 2026
For example, Madrazo’s depiction of the daughters of El Cid echoes Yáñez’s treatment of Sebastian’s torments, and Guerrero has deeply studied Spanish baroque painting.
—
Benjamin Lima
special Contributor,
Dallas Morning News,
18 Mar. 2026
In that final part of the cycle—the writing part—were torments, perhaps even tortures, but good things happened.
—
Jake Lundberg,
The Atlantic,
19 Feb. 2026
Denver author Josiah Hesse was raised by Evangelical parents in churches that believe in the torments of hell, that their poverty is due to their sinfulness and lack of faith.
—
Sandra Dallas,
Denver Post,
1 Feb. 2026
The author delves into the torments PTSD causes Vietnam veterans as well as family dynamics.
—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
21 Dec. 2025
Hell is nevertheless filled with bloody and horrific torments.
—
Claudia Roth Pierpont,
New Yorker,
24 Nov. 2025
But true to its Old Testament inspiration and underlying theology, there’s no knowing why God has sent these torments to Jacob and his town.
—
Leslie Felperin,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Sep. 2019
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
9 May 2026
Benedict Cumberbatch stars as Phil, a spiteful rancher who torments his brother's (Jesse Plemons) new wife (Kirsten Dunst) and her sensitive teenage son, Peter (Kodi Smit-McPhee), against the backdrop of 1920s Montana.
—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Apr. 2026
Madigan's Aunt Gladys emerges as the movie's primary villain and torments characters portrayed by Josh Brolin, Julia Garner, Alden Ehrenreich, Austin Abrams, Benedict Wong and child star Cary Christopher throughout the film.
—
Tommy McArdle,
PEOPLE,
2 Apr. 2026
Jigsaw torments blind guys, too.
—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
7 Nov. 2025
Hurricane Melissa torments Jamaica 'There have been loud bangs on the ceiling, and our doors are shaking.
—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
29 Oct. 2025
The Grabber hounds Finn through an old phone booth and torments Gwen through her dreams.
—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
So too did Trump spiritual advisor Paula White-Cain, who compared the president’s torments to those of Jesus.
—
Pat Beall,
Sun Sentinel,
17 Apr. 2026
In the face of such grave concerns, Alyoshka’s torments seem self-indulgent and frustrating, but his problem—whether to leave or stay—is far from insignificant.
—
Literary Hub,
25 Mar. 2026
For example, Madrazo’s depiction of the daughters of El Cid echoes Yáñez’s treatment of Sebastian’s torments, and Guerrero has deeply studied Spanish baroque painting.
—
Benjamin Lima
special Contributor,
Dallas Morning News,
18 Mar. 2026
In that final part of the cycle—the writing part—were torments, perhaps even tortures, but good things happened.
—
Jake Lundberg,
The Atlantic,
19 Feb. 2026
Denver author Josiah Hesse was raised by Evangelical parents in churches that believe in the torments of hell, that their poverty is due to their sinfulness and lack of faith.
—
Sandra Dallas,
Denver Post,
1 Feb. 2026
The author delves into the torments PTSD causes Vietnam veterans as well as family dynamics.
—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
21 Dec. 2025
Hell is nevertheless filled with bloody and horrific torments.
—
Claudia Roth Pierpont,
New Yorker,
24 Nov. 2025
But true to its Old Testament inspiration and underlying theology, there’s no knowing why God has sent these torments to Jacob and his town.
—
Leslie Felperin,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Sep. 2019
Verb
Alexa Bliss, Charlotte Flair and Rhea Ripley after Jade Cargill torments Ripley.
—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
9 May 2026
Benedict Cumberbatch stars as Phil, a spiteful rancher who torments his brother's (Jesse Plemons) new wife (Kirsten Dunst) and her sensitive teenage son, Peter (Kodi Smit-McPhee), against the backdrop of 1920s Montana.
—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Apr. 2026
Madigan's Aunt Gladys emerges as the movie's primary villain and torments characters portrayed by Josh Brolin, Julia Garner, Alden Ehrenreich, Austin Abrams, Benedict Wong and child star Cary Christopher throughout the film.
—
Tommy McArdle,
PEOPLE,
2 Apr. 2026
Jigsaw torments blind guys, too.
—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
7 Nov. 2025
Hurricane Melissa torments Jamaica 'There have been loud bangs on the ceiling, and our doors are shaking.
—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
29 Oct. 2025
The Grabber hounds Finn through an old phone booth and torments Gwen through her dreams.
—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
17 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for torments
Noun
-
The killing scenes of the regime were so fresh in my nightmares when the war began and now the sound of airstrikes and fighter jets added to them.
-
Older children may have panic attacks, nightmares, and difficulty focusing, Mendoza said.
Noun
-
The colors, pains, pleasures, smells, tastes and sounds, the what-it’s-like of being conscious, are not private inner bits and blobs that philosophers call qualia, floating in a theatre of the mind.
-
Unfortunately, days before the ceremony, Nelson began experiencing chest pains while visiting with a friend.
Noun
-
When their biggest demonic enemy (Lee Byung-hun) encourages the formation of an equally popular K-pop boy band aimed at stealing the souls of their fans, the trio has to fight harder than ever to hold the demons at bay while keeping their friendship intact.
-
These are places from Filipino folklore, where shapeshifters, demons, witches, and monsters exist.
Verb
-
No, what plagues the Padres is so much deeper.
-
Odd moment plagues fourth quarter As the Knicks held on to their fairly sizable lead, a fan ran onto the court, tried to take a selfie with Wembanyama but was quickly apprehended by security.
Noun
-
The reticence of Cartland’s heroes belies agonies of loneliness.
-
Although the novel’s center does not quite hold, O’Farrell’s emotional intelligence — the heart and heat of her characters — braces this sometimes unwieldy chronicle of a nation that has been subject to cumbrous historic agonies.
Noun
-
The sad thing is that the miseries return, but there is no other Garrincha available.
-
The parallels between Ines’ dilemma and that of a nation being asked to lick its wounds in silence — in the name of moving on from past miseries — are present but elusive.
Noun
-
Any justice in the community would praise this murderer’s row of craftspeople working on the production design for the period town setting; makeup, especially Pennywise’s horrible face; sound design, for helping to keep the audio terrors churning along; and the costume work.
-
Madonna has made music through various calamities that at the time felt world-ending — wars, political unrest, financial collapse — so the terrors of 2026 don’t seem to faze her.
Verb
-
China, which jails human rights activists in Hong Kong, persecutes Uyghurs, has killed hundreds of thousands of Tibetans and has committed genocide against the Falun Gong, is on the UN Human Rights Council.
-
In Russia, the civilian repressive apparatus persecutes the military, which leaps at every chance for revenge.
Cite this Entry
“Torments.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/torments. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
