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
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 torturing
Joseph Buczek, CBS News, 23 Mar. 2026
Some 800 film professionals, including Oscar winners Juliette Binoche, Marion Cotillard and director Yorgos Lanthimos, have signed a joint statement condemning the Iranian government’s brutal crackdown on protestors, calling out Tehran’s killing and torturing of its own people.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 21 Jan. 2026
CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026
No such rules appear to exist for Saudi Arabia, whose leaders have been accused of arbitrarily arresting, jailing and torturing people who speak out against the government.
—Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 9 Apr. 2026
The Netherlands and Canada have brought a separate case against Syria at the United Nations’ top court, accusing Damascus of a yearslong campaign of torturing its own citizens.
—ABC News, 8 Apr. 2026
With Irene threatening Billie, Joe skulks back to his cement cell, but hears Irene torturing Billie in the next room.
—Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Apr. 2026
Two recent cases of parents in Round Lake Beach and Fox Lake charged with several counts each of torturing and abusing their children — in one case allegedly causing a son’s death — point to the need for some sort of parental licensing.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
The Ayatollah ruled as a brutal dictator, killing and torturing his own people, imposing harsh restrictions on basic freedoms, and put the lives of our troops and global allies constantly at risk.
—Derek Tran, Oc Register, 6 Mar. 2026
Ida, meanwhile, is a crime society floozy in 1930s Great Depression Chicago, an escort to a coterie of goombahs who take to mentally torturing her over dinner and drinks in a speakeasy.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 4 Mar. 2026
Experts have a long history of torturing us with predictions about how technology will wipe us out, first our jobs and then just getting rid of us altogether because humans are a bother.
—Peter Cappelli, Fortune, 28 Feb. 2026
Noun
Yaldo was arraigned on March 20 on one count of third-degree killing/torturing of animals, a four-year felony, and given a $75,000 bond.
—Joseph Buczek, CBS News, 23 Mar. 2026
Some 800 film professionals, including Oscar winners Juliette Binoche, Marion Cotillard and director Yorgos Lanthimos, have signed a joint statement condemning the Iranian government’s brutal crackdown on protestors, calling out Tehran’s killing and torturing of its own people.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 21 Jan. 2026
Verb
The cartel has been accused of using fake job advertisements to lure new members and of torturing and killing recruits who resist.
—CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026
No such rules appear to exist for Saudi Arabia, whose leaders have been accused of arbitrarily arresting, jailing and torturing people who speak out against the government.
—Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 9 Apr. 2026
The Netherlands and Canada have brought a separate case against Syria at the United Nations’ top court, accusing Damascus of a yearslong campaign of torturing its own citizens.
—ABC News, 8 Apr. 2026
With Irene threatening Billie, Joe skulks back to his cement cell, but hears Irene torturing Billie in the next room.
—Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Apr. 2026
Two recent cases of parents in Round Lake Beach and Fox Lake charged with several counts each of torturing and abusing their children — in one case allegedly causing a son’s death — point to the need for some sort of parental licensing.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
The Ayatollah ruled as a brutal dictator, killing and torturing his own people, imposing harsh restrictions on basic freedoms, and put the lives of our troops and global allies constantly at risk.
—Derek Tran, Oc Register, 6 Mar. 2026
Ida, meanwhile, is a crime society floozy in 1930s Great Depression Chicago, an escort to a coterie of goombahs who take to mentally torturing her over dinner and drinks in a speakeasy.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 4 Mar. 2026
Experts have a long history of torturing us with predictions about how technology will wipe us out, first our jobs and then just getting rid of us altogether because humans are a bother.
—Peter Cappelli, Fortune, 28 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for torturing
Adjective
-
Another wrenching question, of course, is whether at least the younger Perez siblings would want or need to go with Olga to Guatemala if she were deported.—
Tim Padgett,
Sun Sentinel,
27 Mar. 2026
-
These four novels create a convincing, wrenching, kaleidoscopic picture of the range and repetitions of the most fatal kind of love; the sort of love that allows nothing else to grow around it, that eradicates all dignity; a love which, in order to be completed, must be told.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
This could allow for greater design flexibility, as lower curing deformation results in fewer distortions during production.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Among Trump’s most consequential legacies has been his deformation of the temperament and disposition of virtually the entire Republican Party.—
Peter Wehner,
The Atlantic,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But so often left unsaid by Gu are the moral ambiguities that come with choosing to represent a country that has been heavily criticized by Human Rights Watch, among other watchdog groups, for denying rights of freedom of expression and for persecuting government critics.—
Zak Keefer,
New York Times,
17 Feb. 2026
-
The term refers to biblical passages in which Jesus described Jews in specific communities who were persecuting the early Christians.—
Jennifer Berry Hawes,
ProPublica,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The front has square glass block masonry on the lower half, which lets light in while reducing what's visible outside by distorting the view.—
Stefan Ionescu
March 30,
New Atlas,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Kyle is just outing herself as a gossip and is distorting what everyone has to say to try to one-up Dorit in her own life.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Activists claim the animals were living in torturous conditions and were being used for medical research.—
Brady Halbleib,
CBS News,
18 Apr. 2026
-
But sad books need not be torturous books.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The band’s 2021 debut album, Pure, which caught the attention of Chicago’s Skin Graft Records, relied on harsh distortion and eccentric mixing in the trebly vein of Wavves or Times New Viking.—
Jude Noel,
Pitchfork,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Fixing the distortions that increasingly limit these benefits to the rich — and pressure middle-class families to accept ever-rising demands on their time and wallets — should be a priority for policymakers.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The incident is one in a string of recent crimes that have been plaguing San Fernando Valley residents.—
Dean Fioresi,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
As those dry earlier, so do fuels lower down, exacerbating a drought already plaguing the West’s high plains.—
Christine Peterson,
Outdoor Life,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
To make a profit from their business, American companies sent their manufacturing facilities overseas, screwing American workers by incurring smaller labor costs, therefore profiting rich investors who never had to work for it and used their money to make more money off the American consumer.—
Jay Reddick,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 Mar. 2026
-
All the setup required was screwing in the legs.—
Noah Kaufman,
Architectural Digest,
7 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Torturing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/torturing. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
