torture 1 of 2

noun

ˈtȯr-chər How to pronounce torture (audio)
Definition of torturenext
1
as in nightmare
a situation or state that causes great suffering and unhappiness it's torture for me to see you so unhappy

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2
as in agony
a state of great suffering of body or mind spent an afternoon in torture waiting to hear whether her brother had made it home safely

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torture

2 of 2

verb

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

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

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word torture different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of torture are afflict, rack, torment, and try. While all these words mean "to inflict on a person something that is hard to bear," torture adds the implication of causing unbearable pain or suffering.

tortured by a sense of guilt

When is it sensible to use afflict instead of torture?

While the synonyms afflict and torture are close in meaning, afflict is a general term and applies to the causing of pain or suffering or of acute annoyance, embarrassment, or any distress.

ills that afflict the elderly

When would rack be a good substitute for torture?

The words rack and torture are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, rack stresses straining or wrenching.

a body racked by pain

In what contexts can torment take the place of torture?

The synonyms torment and torture are sometimes interchangeable, but torment suggests persecution or the repeated inflicting of suffering or annoyance.

a horse tormented by flies

Where would try be a reasonable alternative to torture?

The meanings of try and torture largely overlap; however, try suggests imposing something that strains the powers of endurance or of self-control.

children often try their parents' patience

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of torture
Noun
Through these actions, dozens of major perpetrators have been detained, including Atef Najib, Assad’s political security chief, who is linked to the torture of children in Daraa Province, an act that helped spark the 2011 uprising. — Patrick Vinck, Foreign Affairs, 4 Mar. 2025 Meanwhile, Kathryn Bigelow (fourth row, second from right) returned to the Oscar fold with Best Picture nominee Zero Dark Thirty, missing out on another Best Director bid while the film was embroiled in controversy for its depiction of torture. — Zach Schonfeld, Vulture, 26 Feb. 2025
Verb
Yes, Mark and the other refiners are unknowingly helping to torture her by refining various rooms on the testing floor. — Erin Qualey, Vulture, 28 Feb. 2025 Ruby Franke pleaded guilty to four counts of child abuse and admitted to torturing her children. — Monica Mercuri, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for torture
Recent Examples of Synonyms for torture
  1. nightmare
  2. agony
  3. plague
  4. distort
  5. misery
  6. distress
  7. persecute
  8. torment
Noun
  • For Prince’s team, the damning press was a waking nightmare.
    — Jordan Runtagh, People.com, 15 Mar. 2025
  • As a quiet panic becomes obvious in Ryan’s eyes, the happy return begins to feel like a nightmare.
    — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 12 Mar. 2025
Definition of nightmare
Noun
  • Just consider the agony of merging two or more sprawling thickets of technology.
    — Forbes, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
  • The death of this beautiful 12 year old girl and the agony of her mother and family touched our entire nation greatly.
    — NPR, NPR, 5 Mar. 2025
Definition of agony
Verb
  • McCaffery has a contract through the 2028 season, but with his program plagued by stagnant on-court performance and collapsing ticket sales, athletic director Beth Goetz could make a change.
    — Scott Dochterman, The Athletic, 14 Mar. 2025
  • The global fishing industry has been plagued by labor abuses for years.
    — Julie Watson, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2025
Definition of plague
Verb
  • The Illusion Of Abundance In A Skewed Market This shift has profoundly distorted the venture deal landscape.
    — Joseph Edgar, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
  • In the new court filing, phone records show Mortensen tried calling the other four roommates – but got no response – around the time when security camera from a residence close to the home picked up at 4:17 a.m. distorted audio of voices, a whimper, followed by a loud thud, and a barking dog.
    — Lauren del Valle, CNN, 7 Mar. 2025
Definition of distort
Noun
  • That system, Fritz Alphonse Jean said, has fueled immense misery and social inequalities as well as the current gang violence that has a desperate population urgently calling for help.
    — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 8 Mar. 2025
  • Indian spiritual leader and environmental campaigner Sadhguru has spoken to Newsweek about the nation's mental health, offering his secret to achieving a good state of mind by choosing joy or misery.
    — Dan Perry, Newsweek, 2 Mar. 2025
Definition of misery
Noun
  • While local authorities have since said the incident spawned from a physical altercation between two attendees, and that firearms were not involved, the resulting melee left at least 10 people with non-life-threatening injuries and numerous claiming emotion distress.
    — Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 15 Mar. 2025
  • Garcia’s damages included physical pain, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, humiliation, inconvenience, grief, disfigurement, physical impairment, anxiety and emotional distress, according to a recording of the verdict from Courtroom View Network.
    — Ramishah Maruf, CNN, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of distress
Verb
  • Rwanda has claimed the Tutsis are being persecuted by Hutus and former militias responsible for the 1994 genocide of 800,000 Tutsis and others in Rwanda.
    — CHINEDU ASADU, arkansasonline.com, 17 Feb. 2025
  • Miller wrote the play as an allegory for McCarthyism, when the U.S. government persecuted people of being communists.
    — Contributed Content, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025
Definition of persecute
Noun
  • And that’s just a small sample of the torment unleashed upon poor Jay!
    — Brett Owens, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025
  • Watch Trailer For New Luigi Mangione Doc His experiment was an indisputable failure: in spite of his upbringing as a girl, Brenda always felt like a boy and endured a childhood of torment.
    — Elizabeth Yuko, Rolling Stone, 8 Mar. 2025
Definition of torment

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Cite this Entry

“Torture.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/torture. Accessed 20 Mar. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on torture

Nglish: Translation of torture for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about torture

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