1
as in painful
hard to accept or bear especially emotionally
it was a tormenting moment as they helplessly watched the other team score in the final seconds of the game
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in torturing
intensely or unbearably painful
a tormenting injury
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in plaguing
to cause persistent suffering to
he was tormented by nightmares about the accident
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tormenting
Adjective
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Even the indoor scenes were painful because you’re locked inside that heat.—
Lynette Rice,
Deadline,
23 Mar. 2025 -
The recent swoon, while painful for current shareholders, has driven the headline yield up to 6% and has driven valuations down—NOG trades for 7 times earnings estimates and at a low price/earnings-to-growth (PEG) ratio of 0.56 (anything below 1 is considered to be undervalued).—
Brett Owens,
Forbes,
23 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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What's particularly cruel about that reality is that after years of dealing with questions about his weight, the former Duke Blue Devil star played a career-high 70 games in 2023-24.—
Bobby Krivitsky,
Forbes.com,
1 Apr. 2025
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Here, Munir may be vaccinating chickens rather than grabbing them on their way to slaughter, but the work is just as thankless and cruel.—
Bartolomeo Sala,
The Dial,
27 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Their relocation will mark the end of a long, and often torturous, journey for the club that began almost 25 years ago.—
Tom Burrows,
The Athletic,
23 Mar. 2025
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Now, five years after the declaration of a worldwide COVID-19 pandemic and three years past seeing how torturous a death the virus can bring, Shaver says the experience gave her a new perspective on life.—
Tammy Ljungblad,
Kansas City Star,
22 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Social media is filled with quips and notes about the agonizing ways in which the show nails the corporate experience.—
Leah Asmelash,
CNN,
21 Mar. 2025
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Coming to grips with what happened has been agonizing.—
Christine Pelisek,
People.com,
17 Mar. 2025
Verb
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An audacious plan In the mid-1980s, global health agencies were otherwise occupied and heads of state largely overlooked the illness afflicting millions of their citizens.—
Sam Mednick,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Dec. 2024
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The United States now suffers from twin pathologies—one afflicting the health of its citizens and the other the health of its political system.—
Thomas J. Bollyky,
Foreign Affairs,
30 Jan. 2020
Adjective
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Designed for hiking and other outdoor adventures, these water-resistant pants are made with UPF 50 protection from harsh sun rays along with several spacious, handy pockets.—
Merrell Readman,
Travel + Leisure,
22 Mar. 2025
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President Trump is threatening 20 years in prison for anyone who vandalizes a Tesla, specifically in a harsh El Salvador facility.—
Emily Forlini,
PCMAG,
21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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What could possibly motivate anyone to choose again and again to endure such excruciating pain?—
Tim Genske,
Forbes,
19 Mar. 2025
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But the end games were excruciating losses, usually in the national semifinals, once in the final, and once — just once — in the Sweet 16.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
11 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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An intense look at the world of competitive bodybuilding and remake of a Argentine thriller top our roundup of this week’s new films.—
Randy Myers,
The Mercury News,
20 Mar. 2025
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After the match finished in a 1-1 draw, Ferguson and West Ham’s unused substitutions had an intense running session on the Goodison Park pitch with a backroom staff member.—
Roshane Thomas,
The Athletic,
20 Mar. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Tormenting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tormenting. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.
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