1
as in painful
hard to accept or bear especially emotionally
relatives had to make the torturous decision to disconnect the patient's life-support system
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2
as in wrenching
intensely or unbearably painful
the post-infection treatment for rabies was as notoriously torturous as the disease itself
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Recent Examples of torturous
This Stanley Cup final is twisty, torturous and absolutely exhilarating.
—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
10 June 2026
Panahi subsequently travelled widely to promote the drama which centers around an outpouring of strong feelings by a group of former prisoners toward a torturous guard and stems from his incarceration.
—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
7 June 2026
While staying faithful to the gothic tone and thrust of the story, the second book in the series once again turned the narrative in on itself by front-loading the perspective of chaos personified, Louis’ tortured and torturous lover, Lestat de Lioncourt.
—
Alex Zalben,
IndieWire,
3 June 2026
That account of women in journalism was torturous to write.
—
Literary Hub,
1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for torturous
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
10 June 2026
Panahi subsequently travelled widely to promote the drama which centers around an outpouring of strong feelings by a group of former prisoners toward a torturous guard and stems from his incarceration.
—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
7 June 2026
While staying faithful to the gothic tone and thrust of the story, the second book in the series once again turned the narrative in on itself by front-loading the perspective of chaos personified, Louis’ tortured and torturous lover, Lestat de Lioncourt.
—
Alex Zalben,
IndieWire,
3 June 2026
That account of women in journalism was torturous to write.
—
Literary Hub,
1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for torturous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for torturous
Adjective
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However, Ukraine’s successes have highlighted its ability to inflict painful damage on Russia and change the course of the conflict while Moscow’s advances recently have ground to a near halt.
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California’s already-high electricity rates have increased far faster than inflation, threaten progress on climate change and pose painful affordability burdens on residents and businesses, the Berkeley report said.
Adjective
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His most wrenching scene, when Stagg receives a devastating personal call but cannot react amid the intense geopolitical stakes, captured this tension.
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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.
Adjective
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Ahead of the holiday, the City of Rancho Cordova is cracking down with much harsher penalties.
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Members of his party who want even harsher border controls have splintered off to form Restore Britain, which has gained support from Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, who is vociferously backing it on his X platform.
Adjective
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His agonizing response — Chisholm spent several minutes on the ground in pain — only seemed to confirm that.
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There are many reasons the Rays have followed their amazing 22-4 stretch (from April 22-May 22) with an agonizing 7-15 run (May 24 through Wednesday).
Adjective
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Passing a child who is unprepared may be the cruelest act of all.
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This is your news to share or not share; posting about this on Facebook strikes me as cruel.
Adjective
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One narrative offers an excruciating description of damage done to a girl in a car crash.
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The new Failure album that came out of that excruciating time, Location Lost, is the eccentric, gorgeous sound of the band working through that crisis.
Adjective
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Katherine Guaramaco described the experience as one of the most intense of her life.
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The president highlighted the military operation in Iran that has proven deeply unpopular, and an immigration agenda that has provoked intense backlash.
Cite this Entry
“Torturous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/torturous. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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