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
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Recent Examples of torturing
Literary Hub, 24 Oct. 2025
Additionally, before season one aired, Page Six reported Zakkour was allegedly at the scene of the arrest of crypto investor John Woeltz, who has been charged with kidnapping and torturing a man alongside William Duplessie, per AP News.
—Mckinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2025
Murphy also revealed there would be a focus on the Hungarian noblewoman Elizabeth Báthory, who, along with her servants, was accused of torturing and killing hundreds of young women in the late 16th and early 17th centuries.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2025
More than 3,000 Hamas fighters gunned down civilians, torturing and mutilating some of them in their own homes, still in their pajamas.
—Romina Ruiz-Goiriena, USA Today, 4 Oct. 2025
The trailer presents the Jimmies as a downright terrifying clan, showing them violating and torturing other survivors.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Sep. 2025
And targeting, torturing, and murdering political opponents, rivals, and critics have marked the conflict since its beginning.
—Sean Durns, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
Jamie Simpson of Covington was sentenced in March to 60 years in prison for holding his wife captive and torturing her for hours before barricading himself inside her home in a lengthy standoff with police.
—Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 3 Sep. 2025
Emmett was just 14 when he was kidnapped from his great-uncle’s house by two White men who later admitted to beating and torturing the teen before shooting him in the head and throwing his body into the Tallahatchie River, weighed down by a 75-pound cotton gin fan.
—Rebekah Riess, CNN Money, 31 Aug. 2025
Verb
In another film with a less happy outcome, the woman who claims to be the amnesiac’s wife is an impostor who ends up torturing him.
—Literary Hub, 24 Oct. 2025
Additionally, before season one aired, Page Six reported Zakkour was allegedly at the scene of the arrest of crypto investor John Woeltz, who has been charged with kidnapping and torturing a man alongside William Duplessie, per AP News.
—Mckinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2025
Murphy also revealed there would be a focus on the Hungarian noblewoman Elizabeth Báthory, who, along with her servants, was accused of torturing and killing hundreds of young women in the late 16th and early 17th centuries.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2025
More than 3,000 Hamas fighters gunned down civilians, torturing and mutilating some of them in their own homes, still in their pajamas.
—Romina Ruiz-Goiriena, USA Today, 4 Oct. 2025
The trailer presents the Jimmies as a downright terrifying clan, showing them violating and torturing other survivors.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Sep. 2025
And targeting, torturing, and murdering political opponents, rivals, and critics have marked the conflict since its beginning.
—Sean Durns, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
Jamie Simpson of Covington was sentenced in March to 60 years in prison for holding his wife captive and torturing her for hours before barricading himself inside her home in a lengthy standoff with police.
—Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 3 Sep. 2025
Emmett was just 14 when he was kidnapped from his great-uncle’s house by two White men who later admitted to beating and torturing the teen before shooting him in the head and throwing his body into the Tallahatchie River, weighed down by a 75-pound cotton gin fan.
—Rebekah Riess, CNN Money, 31 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for torturing
Noun
-
Although the rate of subduction varies little along the entire arc, there are complex changes in the geologic processes along the subduction zone that dramatically influence volcanic activity, crustal deformation, earthquake generation and occurrence all along the western edge of South America.—
Hollie Silverman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Overloading the joints or applying excessive torque may cause mechanical deformation or servo damage, according to reports.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The former human-rights lawyer entered on a tourist visa and filed for political asylum in October of that year, claiming the governments that succeeded Correa were persecuting him.—
Syra Ortiz Blanes,
Miami Herald,
12 Sep. 2025
-
For 25 years, Chavism has co-opted Venezuela's infrastructure for its own enrichment, persecuting journalists and opposition, wrecking the economy, and leaving its citizens in poverty.—
Kristina Foltz,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Other factors may also be distorting reports of public support for political violence.—
Ryan Kennedy,
The Conversation,
13 Oct. 2025
-
Still, another way to view it is that AI is the latest tool in humanity’s long history of shaping and distorting narratives.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
13 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Hiking through the deep snow drifts above 26,000 feet is torturous and time consuming.—
Frederick Dreier,
Outside,
8 Oct. 2025
-
Bertino’s chamber piece unfolds over one torturous night and will be exclusive to Paramount’s streaming platform following its world premiere at Fantastic Fest in September.—
Brian Tallerico,
Vulture,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Fourth Spacers places the focus on distortion, robotics and digital processes.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Bringing forward the perspective of Haitians represents one way to both lessen the silences of the past and rectify the ongoing and harmful distortions of the present.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Jordan Shamir, co-founder and CEO of Yofi AI, said fraud and theft continue to be major issues plaguing brands and retailers of all sizes.—
Meghan Hall,
Sourcing Journal,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Politicians on both sides of the aisle widely condemned the attack, one of several high-profile acts of political violence plaguing the United States in recent years.—
Matt Lavietes,
NBC news,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Plumbing in an old house requires reaching into funny crevices and screwing things the right way.—
Matthew Hutson,
IEEE Spectrum,
22 Sep. 2025
-
Put the stopper back in the sink before re-screwing the pivot nut, horizontal rod, and sliding your under sink items back into place.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The Bulldogs have just lost them in agonizing fashion.—
Seth Emerson,
New York Times,
26 Oct. 2025
-
This isn’t to say writer and director Mary Bronstein’s film, about the agonizing deterioration of a woman whose life is falling down around her in near-apocalyptic fashion, isn’t worth watching.—
Bill Goodykoontz,
AZCentral.com,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Torturing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/torturing. Accessed 27 Oct. 2025.
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