torturing 1 of 3

adjective

Definition of torturingnext
as in wrenching
intensely or unbearably painful watched the final torturing moments of the game as the lead constantly shifted between the two teams

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

torturing

2 of 3

noun

as in deformation
the twisting of something out of a natural or normal shape or condition fans of the natural look frown on the torturing of garden trees and shrubs into fantastic shapes

Synonyms & Similar Words

torturing

3 of 3

verb

present participle of torture
1
as in persecuting
to cause persistent suffering to the neighbor's dog constantly tortures our cat, barking at him and chasing him down the street

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in distorting
to twist (something) out of a natural or normal shape or condition tortured her naturally straight hair into curls

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for torturing
  1. deformation
  2. torturous
  3. distortion
  4. agonizing
  5. deformity
  6. afflicting
  7. excruciating
  8. intense
Noun
  • Regardless of views on climate change and global warming, the world's glaciers are increasingly retreating despite seasonal fluctuations and independent of natural glacial movement caused by factors like internal deformation.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 10 Dec. 2024
  • But in 2020, based on an analysis of the deformation of Africa’s crust, Daly and his colleagues suggested the Okavango rift connects to a rift in Namibia, on the Atlantic coast.
    ByPaul Voosen, science.org, 7 Nov. 2024
Definition of deformation
Adjective
  • The two halves of this character combine in a captivating performance for which Goggins was happy to endure a torturous prosthetic.
    Ryan Fleming, Deadline, 13 June 2024
  • According to the political scientist Pierre Englebert, the Congolese government and people lose as much as $4 billion in revenue every year due to state agents’ manipulation of mining contracts and payments, torturous budget practices, and outright theft.
    Stephen R. Weissman, Foreign Affairs, 8 June 2015
Definition of torturous
Noun
  • Strong pay gains appear to be a holdout while other Covid-era distortions fade, Elyse Ausenbaugh, head of investment strategy at JPMorgan Wealth Management, wrote in commentary issued Friday.
    Alicia Wallace, CNN, 6 Dec. 2024
  • To be sure, this report, written under the guise of international law and human rights, is utterly baseless, replete with malicious lies and gross distortions of fact, as well as wholesale fabrications of law.
    Jason Fields, Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2024
Definition of distortion
Adjective
  • But even in the worst cases of lupus, the decline—though agonizing—is much slower.
    ByJennifer Couzin-Frankel, science.org, 14 Nov. 2024
  • For people who were close to Cliff Lambert, the still-unresolved legal saga surrounding his brutal killing more than a decade ago has been agonizing.
    Tim Stelloh, NBC News, 4 Nov. 2024
Definition of agonizing
Noun
  • In their closing minutes, the Gothams threw a curveball by awarding Best Feature to A Different Man, a dark dramedy about an actor with a facial deformity that had otherwise been entirely shut out.
    Nate Jones, Vulture, 7 Dec. 2024
  • Or where using human labor means repetitive stress, deformity and injury, such as in many industrial tasks.
    Amir Husain, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
Definition of deformity
Verb
  • Maylia and Jack are both kids, two of the untold number of minors caught up in one side or the other of the burgeoning fentanyl trade afflicting the US.
    Longreads, Longreads, 4 Oct. 2024
  • Whatever's afflicting you out there, in here the coffee is always hot, the fries are always crispy and the ranch dip is always free.
    Tyler Buchanan, Axios, 18 Oct. 2024
Definition of afflicting
Adjective
  • This has been an excruciating season for the Browns, their coach, and especially for Winston, the backup quarterback to starter Deshaun Watson, who has missed most of the season with a torn Achilles tendon.
    Jim Ingraham, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
  • Ewing’s left foot was so badly injured that putting any pressure on it caused excruciating pain, even a year later.
    Rivka Galchen, The New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2024
Definition of excruciating
Adjective
  • Media coverage of Walker’s messy private life has been intense.
    Oliver Kay, The Athletic, 20 Dec. 2024
  • Debate is now intense both within the government and in the public sphere about whether the country should escalate work on its controversial nuclear program.
    Robin Wright, The New Yorker, 19 Dec. 2024
Definition of intense
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.

Thesaurus Entries Near torturing

tortures

torturing

torturous

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Torturing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/torturing. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on torturing

Nglish: Translation of torturing for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of torturing for Arabic Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See All

Point of View: It's Personal

Plural and Possessive Names: A Guide

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Words You Always Have to Look Up
See All

Popular in Wordplay

See All

8 Words with Fascinating Histories

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

Birds Say the Darndest Things

10 Words from Taylor Swift Songs (Merriam's Version)

10 Scrabble Words Without Any Vowels
See All

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
naughty or nice
Are you naughty or nice? Quiz He's making a quiz, and checking it twice...