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.
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Recent Examples of torturing
Paula Wethington,
CBS News,
12 June 2026
She was booked on 12 counts of willful or malicious killing, maiming or torturing of an animal, and three counts of felony malicious destruction of private property over $5,000.
—
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 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
Joseph Buczek,
CBS News,
22 June 2026
In fact, the disease has been torturing humans for at least 5,500 years, according to a study published today in the journal Nature .
—
Margherita Bassi,
Popular Science,
17 June 2026
Meanwhile, Harris welcomed her endorsement by Dick Cheney, who was not a very popular vice president but was a zealous defender of torturing Muslims.
—
Ta-Nehisi Coates,
Vanity Fair,
15 June 2026
Last year, a German court sentenced a Syrian doctor to life imprisonment for torture and war crimes in his Syrian homeland on Monday for killing two people and torturing nine in Syria between 2011 and 2012.
—
ABC News,
15 June 2026
She was later transported to the Clark County Juvenile Hall and charged with 12 counts of willful or malicious killing, maiming or torturing an animal and three counts of felony malicious destruction of private property valued at more than $5,000, police said.
—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
1 June 2026
Then, she was transported to Clark County Juvenile Hall and booked for 12 counts of willful or malicious killing, maiming or torturing an animal and three counts of felony malicious destruction of private property valued at more than $5,000.
—
Desiree Anello,
PEOPLE,
31 May 2026
Others believe that extraterrestrials are imparting divine wisdom, or are simply torturing us, like a child pulling the legs off an insect.
—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
The malevolent Sidious put Maul through the wringer, torturing and manipulating him on his path to becoming a fearsome Sith Lord.
—
Sergio Pereira,
Space.com,
19 May 2026
Noun
The animal was owned by a 34-year-old Monroe man, who was arrested on Thursday with a warrant on a third-degree charge of animal killing/torturing.
—
Paula Wethington,
CBS News,
12 June 2026
She was booked on 12 counts of willful or malicious killing, maiming or torturing of an animal, and three counts of felony malicious destruction of private property over $5,000.
—
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 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
Henry Bernard Montgomery, 38, was arraigned Monday afternoon on one count of third-degree killing/torturing animals and given a $20,000 bond with a GPS tether.
—
Joseph Buczek,
CBS News,
22 June 2026
In fact, the disease has been torturing humans for at least 5,500 years, according to a study published today in the journal Nature .
—
Margherita Bassi,
Popular Science,
17 June 2026
Meanwhile, Harris welcomed her endorsement by Dick Cheney, who was not a very popular vice president but was a zealous defender of torturing Muslims.
—
Ta-Nehisi Coates,
Vanity Fair,
15 June 2026
Last year, a German court sentenced a Syrian doctor to life imprisonment for torture and war crimes in his Syrian homeland on Monday for killing two people and torturing nine in Syria between 2011 and 2012.
—
ABC News,
15 June 2026
She was later transported to the Clark County Juvenile Hall and charged with 12 counts of willful or malicious killing, maiming or torturing an animal and three counts of felony malicious destruction of private property valued at more than $5,000, police said.
—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
1 June 2026
Then, she was transported to Clark County Juvenile Hall and booked for 12 counts of willful or malicious killing, maiming or torturing an animal and three counts of felony malicious destruction of private property valued at more than $5,000.
—
Desiree Anello,
PEOPLE,
31 May 2026
Others believe that extraterrestrials are imparting divine wisdom, or are simply torturing us, like a child pulling the legs off an insect.
—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
The malevolent Sidious put Maul through the wringer, torturing and manipulating him on his path to becoming a fearsome Sith Lord.
—
Sergio Pereira,
Space.com,
19 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for torturing
Adjective
-
His most wrenching scene, when Stagg receives a devastating personal call but cannot react amid the intense geopolitical stakes, captured this tension.
-
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.
Noun
-
Here on Earth, structural engineers routinely design typical building systems to yield, crack, and sustain permanent inelastic deformation during a design-level seismic event.
-
Excessive expansion can increase mechanical pressure inside a battery pack, raising the risk of cracks, deformation, internal short circuits, and temperature spikes.
Verb
-
Biden weaponized Law Enforcement against his political opponent, while also persecuting many other innocent people.
-
Jack Hayford, the founder of the King’s University, in Texas, claimed that the film was persecuting Christians, who only wanted to be treated equally.
Verb
-
Last summer, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen accused China of distorting trade and limiting access for European firms.
-
The stainless-steel finish is extremely durable and will last for years without bending or distorting.
Adjective
-
As part of her job, Angèle needs to daub makeup on the models’ feet, blistered from the torturous heels they’re forced to wear.
-
The film tells the story of Greek hero Odysseus’ long, torturous and fantastical trip home from the Trojan War, back to the Kingdom of Ithaca to save his wife and son.
Noun
-
Timing, adjustments and sometimes outright manipulation can create distortions that do not survive a quality-of-earnings review.
-
Some pastimes are distractions, some are distortions, and some few are true distillations—refining a city or a place or a community to its essence, deliciously sipped by all.
Verb
-
Different aspects can make downtowns undesirable and several issues have been plaguing cities on both sides of the Atlantic recently.
-
For one, the blue material likely has no direct relation to the large algal blooms that are also plaguing the monument, according to Tim Auerhahn, chairman of the Aquatic Council.
Verb
-
America’s favorite sport is not football, or soccer, but screwing over sports fans, which is why FIFA should hold its World Cup in the United States permanently.
-
At least Mercedes is reverting back to screwing things together rather than gluing things in a back-to-basics manufacturing push.
Cite this Entry
“Torturing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/torturing. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
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