torturous

adjective

tor·​tur·​ous ˈtȯr-chə-rəs 

ˈtȯrch-

1

a

: very unpleasant or painful

a torturous day

torturous self-doubts

b

: causing torture

torturous inquisitions

2

: painfully difficult or slow

the torturous course of the negotiations

torturously adverb

Synonyms

• afflicting
• agonizing
• bitter
• cruel
• excruciating
• galling
• grievous
• harrowing
• harsh
• heartrending
• hurtful
• painful
• tormenting

Examples of torturous in a Sentence

relatives had to make the torturous decision to disconnect the patient's life-support system

the post-infection treatment for rabies was as notoriously torturous as the disease itself

Recent Examples on the Web

Another year, another torturous Saturday Night Live episode for Colin Jost. —EW.com, 22 Dec. 2024

Previously, when companies came to the government to request data access, there was a torturous process of approvals. —IEEE Spectrum, 10 Dec. 2024

His other contributions of 7, 5, 11 and 3 have been hard to watch for their torturous uncertainty. —Tim Ellis, Forbes, 22 Dec. 2024

Frantic searches for gas and plywood, relentless debates over staying or going, and the torturous uncertainty of a wobbly track came down to one moment Wednesday night: Landfall. —Kathryn Varn, Axios, 10 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Kids Definition

torturous

adjective

tor·​tur·​ous ˈtȯrch-(ə-)rəs 

: causing great pain

torturously adverb