1
as in nightmare
a situation or state that causes great suffering and unhappiness
it's torture for me to see you so unhappy
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in agony
a state of great suffering of body or mind
spent an afternoon in torture waiting to hear whether her brother had made it home safely
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1
as in to plague
to cause persistent suffering to
the neighbor's dog constantly tortures our cat, barking at him and chasing him down the street
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2
as in to distort
to twist (something) out of a natural or normal shape or condition
tortured her naturally straight hair into curls
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of torture
David Remnick, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
The alleged crimes include torture and mutilation, and Heuermann allegedly took notes on the crimes, the targets and measures to avoid detection.
—Michael Ruiz , Jennifer Johnson, FOXNews.com, 6 Sep. 2025
NPR, 10 Sep. 2025
The use of El Salvador's CECOT prison was denounced by human rights groups and Democrats in Congress for its reputation as a place where prisoners were tortured and never released.
—Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for torture
Noun
The men Blitzer interviewed reported regular abuses and instances of torture inside CECOT.
—David Remnick, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
The alleged crimes include torture and mutilation, and Heuermann allegedly took notes on the crimes, the targets and measures to avoid detection.
—Michael Ruiz , Jennifer Johnson, FOXNews.com, 6 Sep. 2025
Verb
That’s partly because the defendants were tortured in secret CIA prisons, so there are ongoing legal fights over what evidence is admissible.
—NPR, 10 Sep. 2025
The use of El Salvador's CECOT prison was denounced by human rights groups and Democrats in Congress for its reputation as a place where prisoners were tortured and never released.
—Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for torture
Recent Examples of Synonyms for torture
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
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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
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
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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
Verb
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His team accused Whatley of distorting the facts to cover for his support of federal policies that reduced funding for local police.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
11 Sep. 2025
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Beyond 100 people, culture often fragments, communication distorts and the founder’s vision weakens.—
Jonathan Low,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The Industrial Revolution brought widespread misery in the form of brutal factory working conditions.—
P.E. Moskowitz
September 11,
Literary Hub,
11 Sep. 2025
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The era [or error] is close to an end, so do your best to enjoy the final moments, recall all the good times before misery and depression sets in.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Eileen’s imminent arrival is made even more dramatic when a younger woman named Thea (Imogen Poots) turns up at Hedda’s door in a state of distress.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
9 Sep. 2025
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However, without Chinese demand, this abundant supply threatens to further depress prices and worsen farmers’ financial distress.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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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
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More and more, people who have loyally served Putin’s system are being persecuted, mainly on the grounds of corruption.—
ANDREI KOLESNIKOV,
Foreign Affairs,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Portable smart tire pressure monitors screw onto the valve stem and connect to your phone, offering real-time updates and alerts for slow leaks.—
Melanie Marshall,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Sep. 2025
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Waterhouse said that screw caps generally make more sense for a wine like rosé, which isn’t intended to age, while cork is the standard for aging wines.—
Dee-Ann Durbin,
Fortune,
5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Torture.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/torture. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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