Synonyms of torturing

torturing 1 of 3

adjective

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

• wrenching
• torturous
• agonizing
• excruciating
• intense
• tormenting
• raging
• violent
• biting
• racking
• harrowing
• extreme
• acute
• stabbing
• exquisite
• fierce
• tearing
• shooting
• penetrating
• piercing
• cutting
• vehement
• stinging
• sharp
• tingling
• smarting

torturing

2 of 3

noun

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

• deformation
• distortion
• deformity
• screwing
• warping
• contortion
• misshaping
• squinching
• disfigurement
• defacement
• malformation

torturing

3 of 3

verb

present participle of torture

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

• persecuting
• plaguing
• afflicting
• tormenting
• besieging
• attacking
• cursing
• bothering
• excruciating
• agonizing
• harrowing
• bedeviling
• racking
• anguishing
• besetting
• stinging
• troubling
• harassing
• pursuing
• oppressing
• molesting
• disturbing
• assailing
• striking
• hounding
• badgering
• pestering
• aggravating
• hurting
• trying
• distressing
• riding
• bugging
• annoying
• stabbing
• dogging
• irritating
• worrying
• agitating
• tyrannizing
• harrying
• riling
• upsetting
• victimizing
• exasperating
• stressing
• grieving
• overwhelming
• irking
• perturbing
• nettling
• discomforting
• crushing
• griping
• smiting
• vexing
• disquieting
• grating
• chafing
• piquing
• pricking
• straining
• overpowering
• rasping
• galling
• smarting
• getting
• paining
• putting out
• wringing
• flustering
• peeving
• martyring
• discomposing
• hagriding
• panging

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• assisting
• helping
• aiding
• abetting
• relieving
• delivering
• releasing
• comforting
• consoling
• soothing
• contenting
• quieting
• reprieving
• solacing
• succoring

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

• distorting
• screwing
• deforming
• contorting
• curling
• warping
• misshaping
• disfiguring
• squinching
• defacing
• winding
• coiling
• looping
• spiraling
• twining
• wrenching
• wringing
• wresting
• wreathing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• straightening
• uncurling
• unbending

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of torturing

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

The accounts of her cruelty were gruesome — publicly torturing women, cutting off their fingers, murdering hundreds of them. — Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone, 23 Sep. 2026

Alsheikh was involved in torturing political dissidents to deter opposition to the regime of then-Syrian President Bashar Assad, according to the Justice Department. — Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2026

Barahona has been behind bars since March 2011 after being accused of killing Nubia and torturing her twin brother, Victor. — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 15 Sep. 2026

Ontario County First Assistant District Attorney James Nobles told the court that Arzuaga was at the center of the group accused of torturing Nordquist to death. — Madison Scott, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026

Before long, much of the world’s empathy for America, which had been widespread in the wake of the attacks, dissipated, facilitated by the emergence of photos showing US soldiers abusing and torturing Iraqi detainees at the Abu Ghraib facility. — David Friend, Vanity Fair, 10 Sep. 2026

The shape-shifting eldritch entity of mysterious origins relishes torturing children. — Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2026

But, if not, then stop using the existence of those goals as a way of torturing yourself. — Eric Thomas, Sun Sentinel, 23 Aug. 2026

Working off a few vague details, Bret begins to imagine a link between Robert and a serial killer known as the Trawler, who has been abducting and torturing young women around Los Angeles. — Leo Lasdun, New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2026