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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
She was later arrested, charged with murder, torture, child endangerment and aggravated mayhem, and ordered to be held without bail. — Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 30 Mar. 2025 But filmmaker Feras Fayyad, who endured torture in Assad’s prisons, never gave up the certainty that one day the dictator would be ousted. — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 25 Mar. 2025
Verb
The Hamas terrorists tortured them daily, hitting them, denying them food while eating in front of them. — Efrat Lachter, Fox News, 15 Mar. 2025 Police Chief Todd Chamberlain previously said the victims, a man and woman who lived at the complex, were bound, pistol-whipped, threatened and tortured for hours. — Max Levy, The Denver Post, 15 Mar. 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
  • Some important breaking news: Britain’s long ninja-nal nightmare is finally over.
    — Jeffrey Blehar, National Review, 28 Mar. 2025
  • Migraine Migraine and sleep abnormalities, such as sleepwalking, teeth-grinding, and nightmares, often go hand in hand.
    — Ann Pietrangelo, Verywell Health, 28 Mar. 2025
Definition of nightmare
Noun
  • According to the outlet, the agony caused Cornett to remove her name outside her dorm room, temporarily relocate to emergency housing, switch to online classes and continue to spend most of her time in her room.
    — David Chiu, People.com, 1 Apr. 2025
  • With espresso especially, the right grinder can be the difference between ecstasy, agony, and simple defeat.
    — Matthew Korfhage, Wired News, 1 Apr. 2025
Definition of agony
Verb
  • Relying heavily on retrospective interviews and self-reporting, these approaches, still widely used in marketing and management, are plagued by recall bias and rationalization.
    — Benjamin Voyer, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
  • Now comes a lengthy report published by the Independent Rikers Commission that states the obvious: the offshore complex, plagued by violence and apathy to the level of unconstitutionality, will not close by the date set six years ago by the City Council.
    — New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 21 Mar. 2025
Definition of plague
Verb
  • Trump portrait removed from Colorado Capitol after president called it 'distorted' Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for USA TODAY.
    — Taylor Ardrey, USA Today, 26 Mar. 2025
  • And Washington demanded that the Chinese government stop subsidizing the production and export of goods, which distorted the global marketplace.
    — Michael B. G. Froman, Foreign Affairs, 25 Mar. 2025
Definition of distort
Noun
  • Ultimately, what is likely driving the protests is that these Palestinians are exhausted from the sheer misery Hamas has brought upon them.
    — Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2025
  • Despite on-ice misery, the Flyers have packed at least 18,000 fans for every game during their last two homestands.
    — Hailey Salvian, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
Definition of misery
Noun
  • At the Santa Monica test location after the rains, the level of beryllium — a metal that is toxic to fish and corals and causes respiratory distress in humans — was more than 10 times the maximum limit allowed.
    — Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2025
  • The result: Some doctors and hospitals have held back on treatments, waiting for the fetal heartbeat to stop or for patients to wind up in undeniable distress.
    — Kavitha Surana, ProPublica, 27 Mar. 2025
Definition of distress
Verb
  • The Roman authorities persecuted Christians harshly, subjecting them to torture and deaths even more gruesome than crucifixion.
    — Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2025
  • The former president has repeatedly denied wrongdoing and says he's being politically persecuted.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 27 Mar. 2025
Definition of persecute
Noun
  • And there is arguably something no less unseemly about making a show about yet-unresolved torment and grief that corrals one’s family into an extended act of performance.
    — Naomi Fry, The New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2025
  • The restoration team, led by longtime Dye disciple Tim Liddy, literally dug up the past, hand-excavating original contours, stripping and reshaping greens, and bringing back Dye’s signature elements—from punishing bunkers with steep grass faces to greens that tease and torment in equal measure.
    — David Hochman, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2025
Definition of torment

Browse Nearby Words

tortuous
torture
tortured
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Cite this Entry

“Torture.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/torture. Accessed 8 Apr. 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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