TORTURE Synonyms: 177 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'torture' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of torture are afflict , rack , torment , and try . While all these words mean "to inflict on a person something that is hard to bear," torture adds the implication of causing unbearable pain or suffering. // tortured by a sense of guilt

Q: When is it sensible to use 'afflict' instead of 'torture'?

While the synonyms afflict and torture are close in meaning, afflict is a general term and applies to the causing of pain or suffering or of acute annoyance, embarrassment, or any distress. // ills that afflict the elderly

Q: When would 'rack' be a good substitute for 'torture'?

The words rack and torture are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, rack stresses straining or wrenching. // a body racked by pain

Q: In what contexts can 'torment' take the place of 'torture'?

The synonyms torment and torture are sometimes interchangeable, but torment suggests persecution or the repeated inflicting of suffering or annoyance. // a horse tormented by flies

Q: Where would 'try' be a reasonable alternative to 'torture'?

The meanings of try and torture largely overlap; however, try suggests imposing something that strains the powers of endurance or of self-control. // children often try their parents' patience

torture 1 of 2

noun

ˈtȯr-chər

Definition of torture

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

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

torture

2 of 2

verb

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word torture different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of torture are afflict, rack, torment, and try. While all these words mean "to inflict on a person something that is hard to bear," torture adds the implication of causing unbearable pain or suffering.

tortured by a sense of guilt

When is it sensible to use afflict instead of torture?

While the synonyms afflict and torture are close in meaning, afflict is a general term and applies to the causing of pain or suffering or of acute annoyance, embarrassment, or any distress.

ills that afflict the elderly

When would rack be a good substitute for torture?

The words rack and torture are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, rack stresses straining or wrenching.

a body racked by pain

In what contexts can torment take the place of torture?

The synonyms torment and torture are sometimes interchangeable, but torment suggests persecution or the repeated inflicting of suffering or annoyance.

a horse tormented by flies

Where would try be a reasonable alternative to torture?

The meanings of try and torture largely overlap; however, try suggests imposing something that strains the powers of endurance or of self-control.

children often try their parents' patience

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 torture

Noun

Human rights groups and United Nations officials have accused the Syrian government of widespread abuses in its detention facilities, including torture and arbitrary detention of thousands of people, in many cases without informing their families. — ABC News, 17 Sep. 2026 Inside, as well as the good city views, there’s a torture museum. — Adrienne Wyper, TheWeek, 17 Sep. 2026

Verb

Olivier tortured himself over her condition, remorseful and exhausted. — Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 21 Sep. 2026 Krieps played the notorious wife of a Nazi concentration camp commander, Ilsa Koch, who was said to torture prisoners and make household objects out of human skin. — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 18 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for torture

Recent Examples of Synonyms for torture

Noun

That led to the rest of the tour’s openers and even Sheeran’s backing band for the tour dropping off the tour in solidarity with Macklemore — all of which became a huge news story and PR nightmare for the usually very un-controversial Sheeran.

— Brendan Menapace, Billboard, 20 Sep. 2026
The Texans are supposed to be elite on the defensive side of the ball, but having to face Allen and then Burrow will give any defensive coordinator nightmares.

— OutKick, FOXNews.com, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of nightmare

Noun

There are few harsher agonies than waiting, and throughout the great expanse of the CPKC ‘International’ Grand Prix presented by Rolex at the Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’, two riders felt that in very different ways.

— Tilly Berendt, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
But for Roma, the agony for his missing son did not end that day.

— Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of agony

Verb

The lawsuit alleges the project was plagued with sloppy workmanship and insufficient oversight.

— Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2026
But the same issues that plagued him a year ago — interceptions and an inability to see the field — have carried over to this season.

— Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of plague

Verb

Posters are editing and manipulating the recordings to distort their content.

— Jennifer McRae, CBS News, 16 Sep. 2026
The same narrative needs a soundbite for a podcast host, a clip for LinkedIn, a quote that a niche newsletter can run verbatim and language that an AI summary won’t distort.

— Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of distort

Noun

Feverish with feeling, the women scream, wail and sob, each one experiencing her misery multiply in real time as the remaining two look on in disdain.

— Natalia Winkelman, Variety, 16 Sep. 2026
Giannoulias hasn’t taken a dime from AIPAC — the American Israel Public Affairs Committee — in this campaign, but that didn’t stop the mayor from attempting to tie Giannoulias to the misery in the Middle East.

— The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of misery

Noun

In February 2025, a group of Yosemite employees hung an American flag upside down – a symbolic distress call – in response to the staffing cuts.

— Martin Goillandeau, CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2026
However, a Los Angeles judge ruled in April that one intentional infliction of emotional distress claim could proceed, according to court documents previously obtained by PEOPLE.

— Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of distress

Verb

Some with final removal orders also have legal protections against deportation to their countries of origin based on the likelihood they would be tortured or persecuted.

— Ryan J. Foley, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2026
Also, some immigration cases involve people seeking asylum because they are being persecuted by a foreign government and releasing a person’s full name could be considered sensitive or even dangerous.

— Laura Tillman, Hartford Courant, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of persecute

Verb

Sometimes a lid isn’t screwed tightly, and your foundation proves its worth all over the inside of your bag.

— Carin Ryan, Travel + Leisure, 15 Sep. 2026
Julian is played with winning charm by Daniel Ings in a role that stretches him from his usual parts, like the buffoonish screw-up brother in the series The Gentlemen.

— Caryn James, HollywoodReporter, 13 Sep. 2026

Definition of screw

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“Torture.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/torture. Accessed 26 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of torture

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