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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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
Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 14 Feb. 2026
The show, which was previously called Maud and has rolled cameras in London, is based on the short story collections by Swedish writer Helene Tursten and follows Maud Oldcastle, an old killer with a tortured past.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 11 Feb. 2026
According to Deadline, Charli will be possessed by a violent, tortured spirit in director Takashi Miike’s upcoming untitled slasher-horror film that is scheduled to start filming in Japan next month; the role was previously reported, but the details about the plot are new.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 10 Feb. 2026
One of the mansion’s signature characters is, aptly, a tortured bride.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
Trapped there, Goggins manifests both versions of his character at once, flickering between flashbacks of the steady Cooper and the present-day, tortured Ghoul.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 5 Feb. 2026
For the first time in their tortured history, the Mariners had a chance to avoid a losing record.
—Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 27 Jan. 2026
Over the years, Tatarsky has expanded the performance into a series of existential vignettes, introducing additional tortured artists who each confront the anxieties and absurdities of life in ways that feel both deeply personal and universally relatable.
—Eva Remijan-Toba, Chicago Tribune, 14 Jan. 2026
Harge Aird in Carol (2015) God forbid two closeted lesbians have a little fun (okay, emotionally tortured and clandestine fun, but still) without some man coming along to ruin it!
—Emma Specter, Vogue, 25 Dec. 2025
Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 18 Feb. 2026
Her husband says she has been tortured after her arrest.
—Somayeh Malekian, ABC News, 10 Feb. 2026
For years he was tortured, and finally released in 1973.
—Literary Hub, 6 Feb. 2026
He’s not tortured in any way — the only person that’s holding him back is himself.
—Leigh Nordstrom, Footwear News, 5 Feb. 2026
Now it’s finally tortured artist Benedict Bridgerton’s (Luke Thompson) turn.
—Arushi Jacob, Variety, 31 Jan. 2026
All of this makes the job of being an informed citizen just tortured.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 30 Jan. 2026
Attorneys claim Laureano-Rosales is no longer a part of MS-13 or the Mexican Mafia, and was not deported under the Biden administration due to fears he would be tortured or killed if sent back to El Salvador or Mexico.
—Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 30 Jan. 2026
In 1980, the shah admitted to mistakes, including acknowledging that his regime had tortured Iranians.
—Eric Lob, The Conversation, 23 Jan. 2026
Adjective
Fennell cast Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff and Margot Robbie plays Cathy in this tale of childhood friends turned tortured lovers, kept apart by heartbreaking misunderstandings and their own destructive decisions.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 14 Feb. 2026
The show, which was previously called Maud and has rolled cameras in London, is based on the short story collections by Swedish writer Helene Tursten and follows Maud Oldcastle, an old killer with a tortured past.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 11 Feb. 2026
According to Deadline, Charli will be possessed by a violent, tortured spirit in director Takashi Miike’s upcoming untitled slasher-horror film that is scheduled to start filming in Japan next month; the role was previously reported, but the details about the plot are new.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 10 Feb. 2026
One of the mansion’s signature characters is, aptly, a tortured bride.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
Trapped there, Goggins manifests both versions of his character at once, flickering between flashbacks of the steady Cooper and the present-day, tortured Ghoul.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 5 Feb. 2026
For the first time in their tortured history, the Mariners had a chance to avoid a losing record.
—Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 27 Jan. 2026
Over the years, Tatarsky has expanded the performance into a series of existential vignettes, introducing additional tortured artists who each confront the anxieties and absurdities of life in ways that feel both deeply personal and universally relatable.
—Eva Remijan-Toba, Chicago Tribune, 14 Jan. 2026
Harge Aird in Carol (2015) God forbid two closeted lesbians have a little fun (okay, emotionally tortured and clandestine fun, but still) without some man coming along to ruin it!
—Emma Specter, Vogue, 25 Dec. 2025
Verb
Villagrán conducted research on Chilean Air Force officers and non-commissioned officers who were tortured by their own comrades for refusing to participate in the coup.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 18 Feb. 2026
Her husband says she has been tortured after her arrest.
—Somayeh Malekian, ABC News, 10 Feb. 2026
For years he was tortured, and finally released in 1973.
—Literary Hub, 6 Feb. 2026
He’s not tortured in any way — the only person that’s holding him back is himself.
—Leigh Nordstrom, Footwear News, 5 Feb. 2026
Now it’s finally tortured artist Benedict Bridgerton’s (Luke Thompson) turn.
—Arushi Jacob, Variety, 31 Jan. 2026
All of this makes the job of being an informed citizen just tortured.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 30 Jan. 2026
Attorneys claim Laureano-Rosales is no longer a part of MS-13 or the Mexican Mafia, and was not deported under the Biden administration due to fears he would be tortured or killed if sent back to El Salvador or Mexico.
—Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 30 Jan. 2026
In 1980, the shah admitted to mistakes, including acknowledging that his regime had tortured Iranians.
—Eric Lob, The Conversation, 23 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tortured
Verb
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The result is that, despite existing household pains owing to more expensive fuel, a resurgent kidnapping crisis that exposes deep security vulnerabilities, and external pressure from a US government that claims Christians are persecuted in Nigeria, Tinubu has expanded his base and looks strong.—
Alexander Onukwue,
semafor.com,
16 Feb. 2026
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Branding peaceful protesters as ‘terrorists,’ and Christians that are persecuted every year as ‘Zionist mercenaries,’ is nothing but scapegoating.—
Benjamin Weinthal,
FOXNews.com,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Zhiwei Zhang, president and chief economist at Pinpoint Asset Management, said the data was distorted by the timing of the Lunar New Year, which falls in mid-February this year after taking place in January last year.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
11 Feb. 2026
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The regulatory asymmetry distorted competition and made Verizon’s devices uniquely attractive to criminals.—
Roslyn Layton,
Boston Herald,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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When teachers became the complaint Several cases described teachers discussing their own political views on the latest Israel-Hamas war in ways that state investigators said foreseeably made Jewish students feel uncomfortable, harassed or targeted.—
Molly Gibbs,
Mercury News,
12 Jan. 2026
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The Broncos beat up, bruised, harassed and downright punished Herbert from the start.—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Though the snow can create dangerous conditions on roadways, its arrival is somewhat of a relief given the extremely low snowpack that has plagued the West this winter.—
Doha Madani,
NBC news,
16 Feb. 2026
-
The 11-time All-Star who been plagued by injuries since 2021 says his familiar position isn’t as physically demanding as the corner outfield spots, contrary to traditional thinking.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Hadi tells an engaging story, brings complex and surprising characters to life, lends a locale an aesthetic iconography, and renders personal identity inextricable from the forces of history that shaped or deformed it.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
10 Feb. 2026
-
American bases built inside the ice sheet, such as Camp Century, were quickly crushed as the encasing snow deformed.—
Paul Bierman,
Washington Post,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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But some may feel frustrated not to have more closure over what happened to one major character, who literally goes missing, launching a manhunt, around two-thirds into the film.—
Leslie Felperin,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Feb. 2026
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Other polling indicates that Democrats are deeply frustrated with their party.—
Linley Sanders,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Last year the Make-A-Wish Foundation flew Luke, who was afflicted with a rare life-threatening blood disorder in high school, to Denver to meet his hero.—
Taylor Antrim,
Vogue,
8 Feb. 2026
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Embarrassment could have been a factor in the rash decision, but Trump is not a man who appears to be afflicted by that particular emotion, which takes its cue from a certain amount of self-awareness and humility.—
Jessica Gelt,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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For the entire 15-minute show, they’ve been contorted into pieces of furniture Lawson fabricated, pieces befitting something between an asylum and BDSM dungeon, and reminiscent of Allen Jones’s 1960s Pop sculpture series, which depicts fiberglass women in fetishware as home objects.—
Anna Peele,
Vanity Fair,
6 Feb. 2026
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In 2025, there was the Owl Arm Trend, in which Gen Z TikTokers contorted their bodies (and stretched their T-shirts) to mimic the shape of a perching owl, clinging to their friend’s arm.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tortured.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tortured. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
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