1
as in painful
hard to accept or bear especially emotionally
relatives had to make the torturous decision to disconnect the patient's life-support system
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in wrenching
intensely or unbearably painful
the post-infection treatment for rabies was as notoriously torturous as the disease itself
Synonyms & Similar Words
Examples 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 torturous
Everything is quiet except the torturous, repetitive wail of the caller.
—
Britta Lokting, Rolling Stone, 13 Oct. 2024
Look no further than Cleveland's torturous security lines.
—Sam Allard, Axios, 18 Sep. 2024
Even that process was torturous, said Butler, noting the city clerk asked the county to add back more than 1,000 signatures that the county had rejected.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 7 Aug. 2024
Ending the torturous practice of solitary confinement is a priority.
—Washington Post, 5 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for torturous 
Britta Lokting, Rolling Stone, 13 Oct. 2024
Look no further than Cleveland's torturous security lines.
—Sam Allard, Axios, 18 Sep. 2024
Even that process was torturous, said Butler, noting the city clerk asked the county to add back more than 1,000 signatures that the county had rejected.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 7 Aug. 2024
Ending the torturous practice of solitary confinement is a priority.
—Washington Post, 5 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for torturous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for torturous
Adjective
-
This lightweight trail runner is designed to slide on like a sock, eliminating painful pressure points and decreasing the possibility of blisters.Emily Pennington, Outside Online, 15 Nov. 2024
-
These punishments are especially painful since North Korea’s economy has been severely strained by international sanctions, the COVID-19 pandemic, and economic mismanagement.Sungmin Cho, Foreign Affairs, 12 Nov. 2024
Adjective
-
Trump has promised to enact a new fiscal and economic regime, including harsh tariffs that some economists fear could have inflationary effects.Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2024
-
November is here, and with its arrival comes cooler, harsher weather.Cortne Bonilla, Vogue, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
-
These decisions are already inherently agonizing in and of themselves, only to be compounded by the uncertainty of what will and will not be covered by insurance.Renee Hsia, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024
-
Navigating long-term health care for older adults is an agonizing challenge faced by millions of people across the U.S.Lauren J. Young, Scientific American, 29 Oct. 2024
Adjective
-
This soaring exploration of generational trauma starts with Star, a survivor of the 1864 Sand Creek Massacre, who’s forced to speak English and practice Christianity by the man who goes on to found the notoriously cruel Carlisle Indian Industrial School.Lizz Schumer, People.com, 5 Nov. 2024
-
Calcutta and appeared as Tony Moss, the cruel, toupeed director of the topless dance revue at the Stardust Casino, in Paul Verhoeven’s Showgirls (1995).Mike Barnes, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Nov. 2024
Adjective
-
Marking its 70th anniversary in 2023, Buchinger Wilhelmi in Überlingen, Germany, was the brainchild of a clean-living German naval doctor, Otto Buchinger (1878-1966), whose career was cut short by excruciating rheumatism.Bill Prince, theweek, 7 Nov. 2024
-
Helene's toll: Hurricane among the deadliest since 1950 The cost in dollars: Hurricane season will cost over $100B Women online are warning each other about painful procedures Kerry Schwartz suffered excruciating pain during a gynecological biopsy to have a fibroid removed.John Riley, USA TODAY, 2 Nov. 2024
Adjective
-
The vote came amid a moment of intense political debate about inflation.Grant Stringer, The Mercury News, 9 Nov. 2024
-
The stakes have never been higher — and the pressure has never been more intense.The Arizona Republic, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near torturous
Cite this Entry
“Torturous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/torturous. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share