tormentor

noun

tor·​men·​tor tȯr-ˈmen-tər  ˈtȯr-ˌmen- 

variants or less commonly tormenter

1

: one that torments

2

: a fixed curtain or flat on each side of a theater stage that prevents the audience from seeing into the wings

Synonyms

• baiter
• harasser
• heckler
• mocker
• needler
• persecutor
• quiz
• quizzer
• ridiculer
• taunter
• tease
• teaser
• torturer

Examples of tormentor in a Sentence

shocked by the news that his chief tormentor from elementary school had written a book about the dangers of bullying

Recent Examples on the Web

This creates a helpless but highly effective kind of suspense, as Iris must rely on her tormentor to mess up, at least until her limbs start to respond again. —Peter Debruge, Variety, 25 Oct. 2024

Robyn subdues her tormentor and narrowly escapes the building after a grenade is thrown her way. —Erica Thompson, TVLine, 20 Oct. 2024

With two wins, the Mets will eliminate the Braves (88-72), their forever tormentors, and lock up the fifth seed while securing the sixth playoff spot for the Diamondbacks (89-73). —Jerry Beach, Forbes, 29 Sep. 2024

De Palma ratchets up the tension, intercutting Carrie’s tentative steps toward normalcy with her tormentors’ cruel prank preparations. —Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 17 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1