as in tormented
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1
as in persecuted
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in distorted
to twist (something) out of a natural or normal shape or condition
tortured her naturally straight hair into curls
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Recent Examples of tortured
Alex Zalben, IndieWire, 3 June 2026
The track is bookended by audio of a woman who sells plasma to fund her shopping addiction, a parallel to Skeletrix’s depiction of his plight as a tortured artist.
—Olivier Lafontant, Pitchfork, 15 May 2026
While Naverrette flawlessly plays Nikki as being possessed by a sinister spirit who’s obsessed with Bear, her performance also includes tortured outbursts as the real Nikki sporadically breaks free from her subconscious to react in horror as her friend takes advantage of the situation.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 15 May 2026
The report contains nearly 300 pages documenting mass rape, tortured families, mutilation of bodies and murder.
—Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore Sun, 14 May 2026
But it was denounced in others after a group of Iraqi artists pulled out of the show, protesting a French artist’s work that featured graphic images of tortured Abu Ghraib detainees.
—Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 8 May 2026
Patrick McTigue, chair of the planning board, voted last and cast the deciding vote — but not before taking a long and tortured pause.
—Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 27 Apr. 2026
McIlroy had a tortured career at Augusta prior to the last two years.
—Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 12 Apr. 2026
Linda becomes her husband’s unyielding defender as the tortured Biff — once the quintessential American boy — develops into a Knight of the Mirrors against his father’s Quixote, the adversary who tries to force the dreamer to encounter his own reflection.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2026
Tiffany Kelly, Entertainment Weekly, 3 June 2026
The story of Alabama's congressional map is long and tortured.
—Nina Totenberg, NPR, 2 June 2026
One man might describe how he was tortured as a prisoner of war, or another might recall the day his brother was hauled away from their home, never to be seen again.
—Deborah Treisman, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
You’d get tortured or killed for just expressing yourself.
—Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 27 May 2026
Tursun, 36, told us that her newborn son — one of triplets — had been killed by the Chinese Communist Party and that she was tortured in internment camps.
—Michael Arkush, Twin Cities, 26 May 2026
Ravelo was the leader and organizer of invitation-only internet groups dedicated to the sharing and discussion of videos depicting monkeys being mutilated and tortured, the DOJ said in a statement.
—Sofia Saric
may 24, Miami Herald, 24 May 2026
Li is magnificently photographed throughout and is as alluring as the part demands, but Cat has no evident personality — nor does Flint, leaving Huston playing emotionally tortured but with no meaningful underpinnings.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026
Carpenter raped, tortured, and murdered numerous people in the San Francisco Bay Area between 1979 and 1981, primarily in Marin and Santa Cruz counties.
—Alexiah Syrai Olsen, Sacbee.com, 19 May 2026
Adjective
While staying faithful to the gothic tone and thrust of the story, the second book in the series once again turned the narrative in on itself by front-loading the perspective of chaos personified, Louis’ tortured and torturous lover, Lestat de Lioncourt.
—Alex Zalben, IndieWire, 3 June 2026
The track is bookended by audio of a woman who sells plasma to fund her shopping addiction, a parallel to Skeletrix’s depiction of his plight as a tortured artist.
—Olivier Lafontant, Pitchfork, 15 May 2026
While Naverrette flawlessly plays Nikki as being possessed by a sinister spirit who’s obsessed with Bear, her performance also includes tortured outbursts as the real Nikki sporadically breaks free from her subconscious to react in horror as her friend takes advantage of the situation.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 15 May 2026
The report contains nearly 300 pages documenting mass rape, tortured families, mutilation of bodies and murder.
—Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore Sun, 14 May 2026
But it was denounced in others after a group of Iraqi artists pulled out of the show, protesting a French artist’s work that featured graphic images of tortured Abu Ghraib detainees.
—Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 8 May 2026
Patrick McTigue, chair of the planning board, voted last and cast the deciding vote — but not before taking a long and tortured pause.
—Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 27 Apr. 2026
McIlroy had a tortured career at Augusta prior to the last two years.
—Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 12 Apr. 2026
Linda becomes her husband’s unyielding defender as the tortured Biff — once the quintessential American boy — develops into a Knight of the Mirrors against his father’s Quixote, the adversary who tries to force the dreamer to encounter his own reflection.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2026
Verb
Armand tortured and planned to drain Daniel, but Louis stepped in to save him.
—Tiffany Kelly, Entertainment Weekly, 3 June 2026
The story of Alabama's congressional map is long and tortured.
—Nina Totenberg, NPR, 2 June 2026
One man might describe how he was tortured as a prisoner of war, or another might recall the day his brother was hauled away from their home, never to be seen again.
—Deborah Treisman, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
You’d get tortured or killed for just expressing yourself.
—Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 27 May 2026
Tursun, 36, told us that her newborn son — one of triplets — had been killed by the Chinese Communist Party and that she was tortured in internment camps.
—Michael Arkush, Twin Cities, 26 May 2026
Ravelo was the leader and organizer of invitation-only internet groups dedicated to the sharing and discussion of videos depicting monkeys being mutilated and tortured, the DOJ said in a statement.
—Sofia Saric
may 24, Miami Herald, 24 May 2026
Li is magnificently photographed throughout and is as alluring as the part demands, but Cat has no evident personality — nor does Flint, leaving Huston playing emotionally tortured but with no meaningful underpinnings.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026
Carpenter raped, tortured, and murdered numerous people in the San Francisco Bay Area between 1979 and 1981, primarily in Marin and Santa Cruz counties.
—Alexiah Syrai Olsen, Sacbee.com, 19 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tortured
Verb
-
During and shortly after the Spanish Civil War, Franco’s regime, too, persecuted Esperantists for the language’s association with anti–nationalism and anarchism.—
Katie Thornton,
Harpers Magazine,
26 May 2026
-
Blanche, who defended the fund at a congressional hearing this week, has said anyone who believes they’ve been persecuted can apply for compensation regardless of political affiliation.—
Eric Tucker,
Fortune,
23 May 2026
Verb
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Presumably they’re distorted reflections of other humans.—
Tasha Robinson,
Vulture,
29 May 2026
-
As the disease progresses, plant growth may be stunted and infected plant parts become distorted.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
25 May 2026
Adjective
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Others were placed under house arrest, harassed or subject to extensive surveillance, or had their passports confiscated, according to prior NPR reporting and the findings of the United Nations and rights groups.—
Emily Feng,
NPR,
17 May 2026
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For years, Christian clergy who live and work in Jerusalem have reported being frequently spat on, harassed and even physically attacked by Israeli extremists.—
Yuliya Talmazan,
NBC news,
1 May 2026
Verb
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Throughout the rosary recital in the grotto, I was plagued with worry.—
Annie Ernaux,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
-
Criminal groups have increasingly launched drone strikes and armed attacks have plagued the race, and last June, politician and presidential hopeful Miguel Uribe Turbay, 39, was fatally shot at a political rally.—
Raquel Coronell Uribe,
NBC news,
1 June 2026
Verb
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Bathed in sunlight, deformed by the wide angle shot, there was our living room.—
Francesco Pacifico,
The Dial,
12 May 2026
-
Weakened by a brief-but-corrosive bath of sulfuric acid droplets during its plunge, the probe would’ve inevitably deformed and ruptured upon reaching the ground.—
Emma Gometz,
Scientific American,
10 May 2026
Adjective
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Dozens of families who survived a fire at a condominium complex in North Attleboro, Massachusetts are frustrated they still haven't been allowed to see their homes three weeks after the fire.—
Tammy Mutasa,
CBS News,
4 June 2026
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Jacob Rodriguez was so frustrated by his inability to pull down a pass from a coach during a drill designed to sharpen the linebacker unit’s instincts and hands, the rookie spiked the ball on the turf after bobbling it.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
3 June 2026
Verb
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Losses from cattle afflicted by the parasite could run into the billions of dollars, with larger effects across the American economy, according to USDA estimates.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
2 June 2026
-
Identifying Black Spot Roses can be afflicted by several common plant diseases.—
Leanne Potts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
29 May 2026
Verb
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Search the internet and there are coaches and players spotted sniffing the ammonia inhalants before a game, with their instant reactions — a noticeable head jerk or contorted face — going viral.—
Jason Jones,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
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In these photographs, Export contorted her body in various ways, creating striking images of her body defying the expected.—
Maximilíano Durón,
ARTnews.com,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tortured.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tortured. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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