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

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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

His body was found nine days later on the outskirts of the Egyptian capital bearing signs of extensive torture, according to Italian investigators. — ABC News, 28 Sep. 2026 To know that a torture as violent as rape is about to happen ‘upstairs’ and not do ANYTHING ABOUT IT, is sick, cowardly and cold. — Alex Ritman, Variety, 28 Sep. 2026

Verb

After her husband died in 1604, Báthory moved to western Slovakia, where she was later accused of torturing and killing hundreds of young women inside her castle. — Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2026 The accounts of her cruelty were gruesome — publicly torturing women, cutting off their fingers, murdering hundreds of them. — Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone, 23 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for torture

Recent Examples of Synonyms for torture

Noun

The exhibition puts designer Pierre-Olivier Persin’s bust of the creature alongside the syringes, vials and other medical paraphernalia from the mysterious Substance kit that sets the movie’s nightmare in motion.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
Watching a cheesy sitcom opening turn into a bloody field day for a time-traveling serial killer or unedited footage of a bear turn into a pharmaceutical nightmare is the ultimate expression of that unapologetic commitment to keeping us on our toes.

— Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of nightmare

Noun

When John reveals the Halogram to Kerry (after fair warning), the look on her face is a mix of shock and agony.

— Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 28 Sep. 2026
Burns, 28, dropped to the ground in agony on his 25th snap of the Giants’ narrow 12-7 win over the Tennessee Titans.

— Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of agony

Verb

Walker, who leads the NFL with 360 rushing yards, also is adept at avoiding an issue that plagues many ball carriers and receivers in the NFL.

— Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 30 Sep. 2026
The report found that extreme overcrowding and abuse plagued the facilities.

— Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of plague

Verb

Ramirez’s two classmates, an Asian woman and a white man, remained in the edited version, but they were changed to appear thinner, and their facial features were noticeably distorted.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
Controlling for certain variables called colliders can distort the effect a study is interested in.

— Mark Louie Ramos, The Conversation, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of distort

Noun

His Lamb goes from a brash Yorkshire showman to a callous profiteer of human vice and misery, his cheeky smile becoming a vicious snarl.

— Joe Reid, Vulture, 21 Sep. 2026
Sunday’s results, coupled with the trouncing in Saxony-Anhalt earlier this month, heap misery on an already beleaguered Merz.

— Sebastian Shukla, CNN Money, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of misery

Noun

In years past, department statistics showed at least a third of all police shootings involved someone with obvious signs of emotional distress.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 25 Sep. 2026
The suit claims damages of false imprisonment, battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

— Theresa Clift, Sacbee.com, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of distress

Verb

Those governments provide assurances that people won’t be persecuted or tortured, federal attorneys said.

— Lindsay Whitehurst, Los Angeles Times, 29 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

Who would come correct with a bitchy, sassy, screw-all-y’all response, and who would play it safe with a mild-mannered send-off?

— Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Sep. 2026
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

Definition of screw

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torture

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“Torture.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/torture. Accessed 3 Oct. 2026.

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