as in tortured
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as in plagued
to cause persistent suffering to
he was tormented by nightmares about the accident
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Recent Examples of tormented
Christine Smallwood, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
Cuba’s economy, already hollowed out by mismanagement, communist economic ideology, sanctions, and the end of subsidized oil from Venezuela, is now tormented by island-wide blackouts and food shortages.
—Sarah Fitzpatrick, The Atlantic, 22 Mar. 2026
Murphy shed weight to become the wiry, brilliant theoretical physicist tormented by his own creation, the atomic bomb.
—Seth Doane, CBS News, 15 Mar. 2026
The biggest distinction between the two displays came in the form of an exciting young winger who tormented Wolverhampton Wanderers’ back line last night.
—James Pearce, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2026
Nigel Pack has tormented Texas since his days at Miami, when the Hurricanes eliminated Texas in an Elite Eight matchup in 2023.
—Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 7 Mar. 2026
But no, Tommy will not be moved, wallowing in grief for his young daughter and tormented by the death of his brother Arthur, ostensibly a suicide.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 5 Mar. 2026
Then in January, the Iranian people by the millions took to the streets, demanding freedom and an end to the dictatorship which has tormented them since 1979.
—Arkansas Online, 3 Mar. 2026
Then in January, the Iranian people by the millions took to the streets, demanding freedom and an end to the dictatorship which has tormented them since 1979.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 1 Mar. 2026
Verb
In Thomas Bernhard’s The Loser, Wertheimer, tormented by encountering a genius in the form of fellow piano student Glenn Gould, gives up his dreams of performing and moves in with his sister.
—Christine Smallwood, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
Cuba’s economy, already hollowed out by mismanagement, communist economic ideology, sanctions, and the end of subsidized oil from Venezuela, is now tormented by island-wide blackouts and food shortages.
—Sarah Fitzpatrick, The Atlantic, 22 Mar. 2026
Murphy shed weight to become the wiry, brilliant theoretical physicist tormented by his own creation, the atomic bomb.
—Seth Doane, CBS News, 15 Mar. 2026
The biggest distinction between the two displays came in the form of an exciting young winger who tormented Wolverhampton Wanderers’ back line last night.
—James Pearce, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2026
Nigel Pack has tormented Texas since his days at Miami, when the Hurricanes eliminated Texas in an Elite Eight matchup in 2023.
—Thomas Jones, Austin American Statesman, 7 Mar. 2026
But no, Tommy will not be moved, wallowing in grief for his young daughter and tormented by the death of his brother Arthur, ostensibly a suicide.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 5 Mar. 2026
Then in January, the Iranian people by the millions took to the streets, demanding freedom and an end to the dictatorship which has tormented them since 1979.
—Arkansas Online, 3 Mar. 2026
Then in January, the Iranian people by the millions took to the streets, demanding freedom and an end to the dictatorship which has tormented them since 1979.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 1 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tormented
Adjective
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The getaway spirals into terror when Katie (Charli xcx) becomes possessed by a violent, tortured spirit (Mizuhara), unleashing a nightmare steeped in Japanese horror tradition.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
20 Mar. 2026
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Henshall is a hoot as the tortured inspector, though the series has recently taken on a new dimension with the addition of Ashley Jensen (so brilliant in Ricky Gervais’ Hollywood satire, Extras) as the formidable DI Ruth Calder.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But as these researchers are the first to admit, the difficulty of defining intelligence is as old as the study of thinking itself—and has plagued artificial intelligence as a field from its very earliest days.—
Jeremy Kahn,
Fortune,
30 Mar. 2026
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The broader transportation program was also plagued with allegations of fraud in 2023 -- shortly after HCPF, relying on an apparently faulty analysis, recommended a significant increase in reimbursement rates in that service.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The United Kingdom hosted a virtual summit Thursday with over three dozen countries seeking to establish a plan for reopening the Strait of Hormuz as a frustrated White House orders them to figure the issue out for themselves.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
2 Apr. 2026
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The frustrated plaintiffs turned to a second funeral home two weeks later.—
Rafael Olmeda,
Sun Sentinel,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Eduiot site includes photographs and audiovisual material, and features the accounts of parents, siblings, cousins, nephews and nieces of Jews persecuted and disappeared under the dictatorship.—
Juan Melamed,
Sun Sentinel,
31 Mar. 2026
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The helpless and much persecuted turtles were cooked in a rich, creamy soup with chunks of meat.—
James Stout,
Outside,
29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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In past times of tension and conflict, Iran has at times harassed shipping though the narrows, and during the 1980s Iran-Iraq war, both sides attacked tankers and other vessels, using naval mines to completely shut down traffic at points.—
Jon Gambrell,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Mar. 2026
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In past times of tension and conflict, Iran has at times harassed shipping though the narrows, and during the 1980s Iran-Iraq war, both sides attacked tankers and other vessels, using naval mines to completely shut down traffic at points.—
Jon Gambrell,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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However, they are widely considered to be highly capable, especially for coalition warfare, despite some technical issues that have afflicted them in their first years of service.—
Pan Pylas,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Apr. 2026
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Our mission is to feed the hungry, comfort the afflicted and offer hope to those in need, including the LGBTQ community.—
Donna Lamb,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Early on, the Biden team had been besieged with desperate pleas to ship more of the then scarce vaccine.—
David Blumenthal,
STAT,
24 Mar. 2026
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When news circulated about the gathering, Temple Emanu-El was besieged with inquiries from the local media.—
Joshua M. Davidson,
New York Daily News,
22 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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As the harried solo parent of a sick child, Byrne lets the camera zoom in so close to her character’s insecurities that the audience breaks out in a cold sweat.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
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In Network, as a harried TV executive, Duvall is similarly roaring, spitting some great Paddy Chayefsky soliloquies with relish.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
16 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tormented.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tormented. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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