as in tease
a person who causes repeated emotional pain, distress, or annoyance to another
a sadistic torturer of men he regarded as weak, the drillmaster really had it in for one recruit
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Recent Examples of torturer
Incredibly, one of Schiller's torturers, Jorge Delgado - the Sun Gym member who had first told Lugo about Schiller and his millions - ended up helping the federal government make their case.
—
Troy Roberts, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2026
His torturers shattered his hands and paraded him around the stadium, taunting him to try to play his guitar.
—Christina Hioureas, Rolling Stone, 22 Mar. 2026
In an early scene, an auto mechanic named Vahid recognizes his former torturer by the distinctive squeak of his prosthetic leg.
—Cora Engelbrecht, New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2026
The film, which looks at a former political prisoner who considers violent revenge against his prison torturer, was co-written by Panahi, Mahmoudian, Nader Saeiver and Shadhmer Rastin.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 1 Feb. 2026
In addition, my torturers repeatedly provided pieces of information that could prove helpful in identifying them as part of investigations by the FBI and other agencies.
—Elizabeth Tsurkov, The Atlantic, 11 Jan. 2026
Hopper grabs El and leaves Kali behind to be captured by her torturers again.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 31 Dec. 2025
The overwhelming majority of experts dispute that torture actually works as an interrogation technique, arguing that any information that comes out of it is unreliable as people under duress will say anything needed to convince their torturers to stop.
—Ellen Mitchell, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2025
Is Eghbal really the torturer these people nicknamed Peg Leg?
—Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor, 17 Oct. 2025
Troy Roberts, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2026
His torturers shattered his hands and paraded him around the stadium, taunting him to try to play his guitar.
—Christina Hioureas, Rolling Stone, 22 Mar. 2026
In an early scene, an auto mechanic named Vahid recognizes his former torturer by the distinctive squeak of his prosthetic leg.
—Cora Engelbrecht, New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2026
The film, which looks at a former political prisoner who considers violent revenge against his prison torturer, was co-written by Panahi, Mahmoudian, Nader Saeiver and Shadhmer Rastin.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 1 Feb. 2026
In addition, my torturers repeatedly provided pieces of information that could prove helpful in identifying them as part of investigations by the FBI and other agencies.
—Elizabeth Tsurkov, The Atlantic, 11 Jan. 2026
Hopper grabs El and leaves Kali behind to be captured by her torturers again.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 31 Dec. 2025
The overwhelming majority of experts dispute that torture actually works as an interrogation technique, arguing that any information that comes out of it is unreliable as people under duress will say anything needed to convince their torturers to stop.
—Ellen Mitchell, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2025
Is Eghbal really the torturer these people nicknamed Peg Leg?
—Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor, 17 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for torturer
Noun
-
Artistic reveal tease The Atlanta Falcons tapped the approach used by the social media account (at)ArtButMakeItSports to preview their schedule release.—
Teresa M. Walker,
Chicago Tribune,
15 May 2026
-
The number of aces in baseball has diminished over time, while the number of teases has proliferated.—
Tim Britton,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
Pedro Báez joined the Los Angeles pen in 2014 and assumed the role of Goldschmidt’s primary tormentor.—
Zack Meisel,
New York Times,
4 May 2026
-
Brendan Carr, tormenter in chief of the broadcast networks, made his way around the room, as did Lachlan Murdoch, the CEO of Fox Corporation.—
Aidan McLaughlin,
Vanity Fair,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
On May 8, the alleged harasser, Alex Jenkinson, appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court via live link and was ordered to stay away from several royal residences.—
Janine Henni,
PEOPLE,
12 May 2026
-
Of course, that conservative approach is often wrecked by QB harassers such as Lawrence and Williams, part of a defense that ranked seventh in the NFL in sacks.—
Eric Branch,
San Francisco Chronicle,
17 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Third-graders would learn about the Road to Damascus, which tells the story of Paul’s transformation from an early persecutor of Christians into a follower.—
Heather Hollingsworth,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Third graders would learn about the Road to Damascus, which tells the story of Paul's transformation from an early persecutor of Christians into a follower.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Anyone who thinks the only alternative to being a victim is to be a victimizer is missing some important possibilities.—
Nikhil Krishnan,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Even if online shaming continues, this accountability will make sure that the victimizer will face social consequences as well.—
Eli Thompson,
Rolling Stone,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Castillo instead met with the attackers on a plan to keep word from getting out.—
Tim Fang,
CBS News,
19 May 2026
-
Abdullah exchanged gunfire with the attackers and alerted everyone inside to go into lockdown, officials said.—
Tom Winter,
NBC news,
19 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Torturer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/torturer. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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