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
Joseph Buczek, CBS News, 4 Feb. 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
Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2026
Yorgos Lanthimos, Florian Zeller and Juliette Binoche are among more than 800 film professionals who have signed a joint statement condemning the Iranian government for killing and torturing its own people.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 21 Jan. 2026
Dan Bujor, who lives out of a school bus parked in Long Island City, was arrested Sunday on charges including overdriving animals, torturing and injuring animals and failure to provide sustenance, in addition to driving without a license, in connection with the bizarre incident, cops said.
—Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News, 6 Jan. 2026
George was arraigned Saturday on three counts of second-degree killing/torturing animals, two counts of abandoning/cruelty to an animal resulting in a death, and one count of abandoning/cruelty to an animal.
—Joseph Buczek, CBS News, 22 Dec. 2025
Apparently, Lee couldn’t take Karl-Anthony Towns, who posted 19 points and 10 rebounds, torturing them on the interior and decided to change the look via the lineup.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 27 Nov. 2025
In the early days of Christianity, Emperor Nero persecuted Christians, arresting and torturing them before their execution.
—Lori A Bashian , Larry Fink, FOXNews.com, 23 Nov. 2025
It is accused of torturing and abusing political prisoners, such as women's rights activists who demonstrated for the right to drive.
—Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 18 Nov. 2025
Hundreds — some with and some without criminal records — have vanished without due process indefinitely into the prison systems of other countries infamous for torturing inmates.
—Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial, Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2025
Noun
Darnell Lamar Robinson, 54, is charged with a felony count of second-degree killing/torturing of an animal and a misdemeanor count of abandoning and cruelty to an animal.
—Joseph Buczek, CBS News, 4 Feb. 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
According to court records, Quero Silva is defending himself against the new federal lawsuit accusing him of torturing the protestors in Barquisimeto.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2026
Yorgos Lanthimos, Florian Zeller and Juliette Binoche are among more than 800 film professionals who have signed a joint statement condemning the Iranian government for killing and torturing its own people.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 21 Jan. 2026
Dan Bujor, who lives out of a school bus parked in Long Island City, was arrested Sunday on charges including overdriving animals, torturing and injuring animals and failure to provide sustenance, in addition to driving without a license, in connection with the bizarre incident, cops said.
—Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News, 6 Jan. 2026
George was arraigned Saturday on three counts of second-degree killing/torturing animals, two counts of abandoning/cruelty to an animal resulting in a death, and one count of abandoning/cruelty to an animal.
—Joseph Buczek, CBS News, 22 Dec. 2025
Apparently, Lee couldn’t take Karl-Anthony Towns, who posted 19 points and 10 rebounds, torturing them on the interior and decided to change the look via the lineup.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 27 Nov. 2025
In the early days of Christianity, Emperor Nero persecuted Christians, arresting and torturing them before their execution.
—Lori A Bashian , Larry Fink, FOXNews.com, 23 Nov. 2025
It is accused of torturing and abusing political prisoners, such as women's rights activists who demonstrated for the right to drive.
—Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 18 Nov. 2025
Hundreds — some with and some without criminal records — have vanished without due process indefinitely into the prison systems of other countries infamous for torturing inmates.
—Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial, Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for torturing
Adjective
-
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
-
What's going on is absolutely heart-wrenching.—
Kiki Intarasuwan,
CBS News,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The erosion triggered an additional breach and deformation of the pipe and damaged the access road to the powerhouse, cutting off land access, Yuba Water and FERC officials said.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacbee.com,
20 Feb. 2026
-
The engineers then continuously tracked the slabs’ deformations.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
19 Feb. 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
-
Troops are occupying our cities and persecuting our people.—
Maria Guinnip,
Oklahoman,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Since his return to office in 2025, this firehose of lies has only accelerated, distorting everything from economic data to constitutional law.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
11 Feb. 2026
-
No Man's Sky creates entire galaxies by distorting archetypes through procedural variation.—
Amir Husain,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
After a torturous 2025 season that featured one of the worst team pitching performances in major league history, the pitching think tank was overhauled.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Every year many Christians are arrested and imprisoned under torturous conditions for practicing their right to religious freedom, where a simple act like praying together in house-churches seems like an act of civil disobedience.—
Benjamin Weinthal,
FOXNews.com,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Luci4 is credited as a pioneer in the sigilkore music genre, which uses heavy distortion and sometimes references the occult.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Often employing caricature, distortion and symbolism to communicate anxiety and resistance, his works are personal and political, offering a critique of the systems that oppress people of color.—
Evan Nicole Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The Bureau of Engineering selected Tetra Tech, a global engineering firm, to fortify and relight the stretch of road that connects downtown Los Angeles to Boyle Heights, which has essentially gone dark due to the amount of copper theft plaguing the area.—
Dean Fioresi,
CBS News,
19 Feb. 2026
-
The decibel drama proved, intentionally or not, to be a deflection from the far more pressing issues plaguing the UConn men’s basketball team at the moment, despite a 24-3 record for which most any Huskies fan would have signed on the dotted line when the season began.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Nevertheless, on a clear if cold day the three walked through several inches of snow, screwing in the new signs.—
Jesse Wright,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Cattano suggests screwing mug hooks into the bottom of kitchen cabinets to utilize that space between the cupboards and the countertops.—
Bridget Reed Morawski,
Architectural Digest,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Torturing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/torturing. Accessed 28 Feb. 2026.
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