1
as in nightmares
a situation or state that causes great suffering and unhappiness
it's torture for me to see you so unhappy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in pains
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in plagues
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
2
as in distorts
to twist (something) out of a natural or normal shape or condition
tortured her naturally straight hair into curls
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 tortures
David Bloom, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Michael Lee Simpson, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2025
The mistake tortures them, which prompts the couple to try and solve the mystery by producing a fake play in an attempt to get their ex-neighbor Mary (Chloe Cherry) to audition.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 3 Oct. 2025
Noun
Former Jews deemed insufficiently converted faced the Spanish Inquisition’s tortures.
—David Bloom, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Verb
Now, a sinister witch (Sarah Stephens) who bathes her broomstick in the woods tortures their existence, abducting their infant and leaving the family in shambles.
—Michael Lee Simpson, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2025
The mistake tortures them, which prompts the couple to try and solve the mystery by producing a fake play in an attempt to get their ex-neighbor Mary (Chloe Cherry) to audition.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 3 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tortures
Noun
-
But the people who love it have put it back together strong enough that a century of decay, the weather, ownership changes, cultural shifts, funding nightmares and a deadly virus couldn't strike the death blow.—
Laura L. Davis,
Nashville Tennessean,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Her mother, Amirah Sharhan, has said the traumatic assault has caused her daughter emotional distress, including nightmares and a fear of strangers.—
Detroit Free Press,
Freep.com,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
But while pains de garde can be eaten all week long, baguettes go stale quickly, leading to significant waste in French households.—
Vivian Song,
CNN Money,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Eager to assimilate, Japanese farmers took pains to learn English.—
Equal Justice Initiative,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
When an unexpected event takes him back to his hometown, he is reunited with his mother and old friends but also confronted by the corruption that plagues his country, sparking a political awakening.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
20 Oct. 2025
-
Chapman’s tenure at the SBC Executive Committee from 1992 to 2009 encountered similar economic and political headwinds that plagues the SBC today, yet many Southern Baptists remember that time for Chapman’s determination to push past those hurdles for the sake of growing local churches.—
Liam Adams,
Nashville Tennessean,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
This dynamic suppresses wages and distorts labor competition.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Expecting others to adapt to us is a selfish gesture that distorts the spirit of travel.—
Wilson Santiago Burgos,
USA Today,
26 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
But Pluribus’ series premiere feels like a night of horrors that’s unending.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Nov. 2025
-
The foundation, established by an act of Congress under President Bill Clinton, is dedicated to reminding Americans about the horrors of communism.—
Sal Rodriguez,
Oc Register,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Will, in response, contorts his entire face into a terrible grimace.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
30 Oct. 2025
-
With an almost modern-day Charlie Chaplin-esque physicality, Moss dances, contorts, and frolics amongst the shoes, their boxes, and fixtures in the store for a mesmerizing, can't-look-away effect.—
Roxanne Robinson,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Illness and job losses left Allen Gray vulnerable to a problem that afflicts thousands of Cincinnati seniors.—
Dan Horn,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Recent research finds a similar curse afflicts National Football League teams that compete to acquire one of the top picks in its annual draft of new players.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
In free fall, the sheet deforms into an upside-down bell when a weight is attached at its center.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
1 Oct. 2025
-
According to Burlison, the video shows a high-speed object—presumably the missile—hitting the orb, which then deforms, tumbles, and sheds smaller fragments, one barely visible.—
Amir Daftari,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tortures.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tortures. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share