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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in wrenching
intensely or unbearably painful
the post-infection treatment for rabies was as notoriously torturous as the disease itself
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of torturous
Look no further than last season, during Nick and Hannah’s torturous engagement.
—
Nic Juarez, Vulture, 19 Feb. 2025
Pair this struggle with the painstaking awareness that sleep is essential for your daily functioning, and sleep deprivation can quickly become maddening — or even torturous.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025
But the stubborn Pharaoh continued his torturous ways.
—Holly Rizzuto Palker, Parents, 27 Mar. 2025
The Bruins keep finding new, torturous ways to lose hockey games.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 8 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for torturous
Nic Juarez, Vulture, 19 Feb. 2025
Pair this struggle with the painstaking awareness that sleep is essential for your daily functioning, and sleep deprivation can quickly become maddening — or even torturous.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025
But the stubborn Pharaoh continued his torturous ways.
—Holly Rizzuto Palker, Parents, 27 Mar. 2025
The Bruins keep finding new, torturous ways to lose hockey games.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 8 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for torturous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for torturous
Adjective
-
The alternative — a world in which the United States and China no longer engage in trade — could be economically painful and destabilizing.—
Alan Rappeport,
New York Times,
10 May 2025
-
Appearance: The condition starts as small, extremely painful blisters on your shins (and sometimes your arms).—
Sherri Gordon,
Health,
9 May 2025
Adjective
-
This garment gets exposed to harsher conditions than most clothing.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
11 May 2025
-
From adorable accents to cozy touches, drivers are increasingly looking for ways to make their commutes and grocery runs just a bit more enjoyable—perhaps to offset the harsh reality of gas prices (and everything else).—
Cori Sears,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 May 2025
Adjective
-
Though Hunt Wynorski’s (Nick Zano) actual death happens off-screen, his pained panic at being trapped underwater by the suction pull of a public pool’s drain is an agonizing sequence, culminating in the gnarly visual of a blood-and-guts fountain.—
Gayle Sequeira,
Vulture,
16 May 2025
-
Because Voyager is so incredibly distant, the team faced an agonizing 23-hour wait for the radio signal to travel all the way back to Earth.—
Victoria Corless,
Space.com,
15 May 2025
Adjective
-
Scheifele’s emotional and inspirational decision to play mere hours after his father’s unexpected death — to play for his dad, to play because of his dad — ended in cruel fashion, with Scheifele helpless in the penalty box.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
18 May 2025
-
At first the program seems to be benign, but Hayakawa’s film steadily reveals how the policy thrives on the cruel capitalist tenet that people are disposable.—
Lovia Gyarkye,
HollywoodReporter,
17 May 2025
Adjective
-
After two years…of chemotherapy, immunotherapy and radiation therapy, of surgery, excruciating pain, the incredible amount of prescription drugs, and all the fervent prayers, my incredible, loving wife succumbed to the aggressive HER2 Triple-Negative breast cancer.—
Clarence Schmidt,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 May 2025
-
Adolescence examines, in almost excruciating detail, a parent’s worst nightmare.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Biden's physical and mental fitness has been the subject of intense scrutiny during and since his time in office, with questions about the former president's age and well-being ultimately forcing him to abandon his 2024 reelection bid.—
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
19 May 2025
-
That evening, there was intense fighting between the Army and the R.S.F, but Wanis slipped outside anyway.—
Nicolas Niarchos,
New Yorker,
19 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Torturous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/torturous. Accessed 24 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share