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
Instead, Jaws’s torturous production forged a generational filmmaker.
—
Mark Hughes, Forbes.com, 21 June 2025
Sunday ended in the rubble of a torturous eighth inning, when the Tigers went from winning 4-2 to losing 6-4 in the rubber match against the Reds.
—Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 16 June 2025
Atletico only made three interceptions (PSG had 12), which was partly Diego Simeone’s game plan, but also proof of just how torturous PSG are to defend against.
—Liam Tharme, New York Times, 16 June 2025
Included in that torturous run was a 24-game losing streak.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 1 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for torturous
Mark Hughes, Forbes.com, 21 June 2025
Sunday ended in the rubble of a torturous eighth inning, when the Tigers went from winning 4-2 to losing 6-4 in the rubber match against the Reds.
—Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 16 June 2025
Atletico only made three interceptions (PSG had 12), which was partly Diego Simeone’s game plan, but also proof of just how torturous PSG are to defend against.
—Liam Tharme, New York Times, 16 June 2025
Included in that torturous run was a 24-game losing streak.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 1 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for torturous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for torturous
Adjective
-
On the Blue Devils’ flight home from San Antonio, there Scheyer was: digesting the game tape, reliving the most painful defeat he’s suffered in three seasons coaching his alma mater.—
Brendan Marks,
New York Times,
9 July 2025
-
Bernie had facial fractures, cuts and bruises around his face, and very painful muscle injuries.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 July 2025
Adjective
-
The biggest change was the introduction of the punitive second apron, which imposed harsh team-building restrictions on teams that crossed said line.—
Bryan Toporek,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
-
Unlike harsher retinoids, this one is gentle enough for sensitive skin.—
Simon Hill,
Wired News,
10 July 2025
Adjective
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And to cope with the agonizing pain of childbirth, Victoria enthusiastically embraced chloroform.—
Sam Kelly,
Time,
8 July 2025
-
The New York Yankees, who won the 2024 American League pennant before losing a five-game Fall Classic to the Los Angeles Dodgers, fell out of first place on Independence Day weekend as an agonizing slump seemed to grip the entire team.—
Dan Schlossberg,
Forbes.com,
7 July 2025
Adjective
-
Politics remains a cruel business and the governor has been on the frontline of it for nearly 20 years, winning and losing.—
Kevin Rennie,
Hartford Courant,
5 July 2025
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They were joined by actors playing the contestants, who lurched along wearing expressions of exaggerated horror, as though the cruel stakes of the game had just been revealed to them.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
4 July 2025
Adjective
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Simon’s excruciating back pain previously forced him to cancel his June 27 and 28 shows in Philadelphia.—
Rachel Flynn,
People.com,
3 July 2025
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After cutting edge surgery Angela Sutphin is without excruciating pain in her right arm and can get a full night’s sleep.—
Pamela McLoughlin,
Hartford Courant,
20 June 2025
Adjective
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Anybody who thought Messi would rest after the intense international tournament does not know Messi.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
6 July 2025
-
During the 1995 heat wave, many of the casualties were seniors who didn’t have family or neighbors to check in on them, especially those living in high-rise buildings where the heat was particularly intense.—
Adriana Pérez,
Chicago Tribune,
6 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Torturous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/torturous. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.
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