as in wrenching
intensely or unbearably painful
watched the final torturing moments of the game as the lead constantly shifted between the two teams
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in deformation
the twisting of something out of a natural or normal shape or condition
fans of the natural look frown on the torturing of garden trees and shrubs into fantastic shapes
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in persecuting
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 distorting
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for torturing
Noun
-
In the northern Sierra, there are currently no signs of deformation.—
Taylor Nicioli,
CNN Money,
18 Apr. 2025 -
Because of the slope’s slow-moving collapse, scientists can study the landslide’s historical rates of deformation and see how those changes relate to the retreat of the Barry Arm glacier.—
Darren Orf,
Smithsonian Magazine,
18 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The torturous clobbering comes after Joel saves Abby from infected hordes and is coldly executed in front of his surrogate daughter, Ellie (Bella Ramsey).—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
22 Apr. 2025
-
One of the hardest parts is her daily growth-hormone injections—a torturous process for everyone involved.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
22 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
In Antioquia, many of those connected by the paisa mutation live with a similar sense of distortion.—
Marion Renault,
The Atlantic,
13 May 2025
-
Or in the case of audio models, technology that helps producers clean up unwanted distortion might be fair use, where models that generate songs in the style of popular artists might not, the office opined.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
12 May 2025
Adjective
-
Bear markets can be agonizing, but overall, markets are positive more often than not.—
Wes Moss,
Forbes.com,
7 May 2025
-
But most of the buzz centers on the will-they-won’t-they romance of Staten (Duhamel) and Quinn (Kelly), who is agonizing over whether to leave Texas behind to pursue her musical dreams in New York.—
Elizabeth Logan,
Glamour,
22 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
However, the council continued to deny any connection between the waste removal and the limb deformities, according to The Guardian.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes,
3 Mar. 2025
-
Morrison also injured her hip and shoulder, according to Kruse, but the fracture brought on a spinal deformity and chronic pain.—
Julia Gomez,
USA TODAY,
27 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
That’s changing this year, as three Democratic governors announced new initiatives aimed at addressing disparities afflicting boys and men.—
Elizabeth Robinson,
NBC news,
25 Mar. 2025
-
One key focus of these efforts should address the deficiencies afflicting the market for biologics, which are medicines made or derived from biological processes.—
Wayne Winegarden,
Forbes,
5 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
After two years…of chemotherapy, immunotherapy and radiation therapy, of surgery, excruciating pain, the incredible amount of prescription drugs, and all the fervent prayers, my incredible, loving wife succumbed to the aggressive HER2 Triple-Negative breast cancer.—
Clarence Schmidt,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 May 2025
-
Adolescence examines, in almost excruciating detail, a parent’s worst nightmare.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
But Trump couldn't get the change included in his 2017 economic legislation, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, amid an intense lobbying campaign from the industry and some GOP lawmakers to protect the break.—
Riley Beggin,
USA Today,
19 May 2025
-
Losing someone the caliber of Soto’s track record stung the Yankees and certainly their fans based on the reaction of an intense Subway Series.—
Larry Fleisher,
Forbes.com,
19 May 2025
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.
Cite this Entry
“Torturing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/torturing. Accessed 23 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share