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
Relevance
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
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Recent Examples of tormenting
JSTOR Daily, 31 Oct. 2025
As in much of McGuane’s fiction, the natural environment—in this case, the vitreous Florida flats, and the angler-tormenting tarpon, permit, and bonefish that populate them—provides the foil.
—Tyler Austin Harper, The Atlantic, 30 Oct. 2025
Known for his brash comedic style, the British actor seems tailor-made for the part of the bearded bully who delights in tormenting everyone around him — especially his wife.
—Jane Lacroix, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025
By 2016, the Penguins had been tormenting the Capitals with playoff comebacks for decades, and Sidney Crosby was pulling away in his rivalry with Alexander Ovechkin.
—Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
Baldoni later accused Lively of tormenting him, his family and colleagues in a lawsuit filed in the Southern District of New York in January.
—Janelle Ash, FOXNews.com, 12 Sep. 2025
As her condition worsens, her fiancé’s brooding cousin becomes an unwilling participant in the evil forces tormenting her.
—Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2025
This demon, for want of a better word, seems to relish tormenting people.
—Richard Edwards, Space.com, 7 Aug. 2025
Verb
In her exhaustive chronicle, Jennings traces the long folkloric history of monk-tormenting demons.
—JSTOR Daily, 31 Oct. 2025
As in much of McGuane’s fiction, the natural environment—in this case, the vitreous Florida flats, and the angler-tormenting tarpon, permit, and bonefish that populate them—provides the foil.
—Tyler Austin Harper, The Atlantic, 30 Oct. 2025
Known for his brash comedic style, the British actor seems tailor-made for the part of the bearded bully who delights in tormenting everyone around him — especially his wife.
—Jane Lacroix, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025
By 2016, the Penguins had been tormenting the Capitals with playoff comebacks for decades, and Sidney Crosby was pulling away in his rivalry with Alexander Ovechkin.
—Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
Baldoni later accused Lively of tormenting him, his family and colleagues in a lawsuit filed in the Southern District of New York in January.
—Janelle Ash, FOXNews.com, 12 Sep. 2025
As her condition worsens, her fiancé’s brooding cousin becomes an unwilling participant in the evil forces tormenting her.
—Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2025
This demon, for want of a better word, seems to relish tormenting people.
—Richard Edwards, Space.com, 7 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tormenting
Adjective
-
The murder scene was so gruesome and painful to process that the community simply burnt the house down.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Oct. 2025
-
Fumbling with the plastic nubs can be painful and frustrating.—
Zoe Gates,
Outside,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
If Redania doesn’t rise to oppose the evils plaguing the Continent, who will?—
Scott Meslow,
Vulture,
30 Oct. 2025
-
The eyesore property has become a visible metaphor for the city’s retail challenges and general setbacks plaguing the Green Line, the Midway and the once-promising University Avenue business corridor.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
In Pahani’s 2006 award-winning comedy Offside, about the cruel cultural chains binding Iranian women, a group of young women attempt to gain entry to a stadium to watch a World Cup qualifying match between Iran and Japan.—
Baz Bamigboye,
Deadline,
24 Oct. 2025
-
There is no reason to be cruel to people.—
Sigal Ratner-Arias,
Billboard,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The former human-rights lawyer entered on a tourist visa and filed for political asylum in October of that year, claiming the governments that succeeded Correa were persecuting him.—
Syra Ortiz Blanes,
Miami Herald,
12 Sep. 2025
-
For 25 years, Chavism has co-opted Venezuela's infrastructure for its own enrichment, persecuting journalists and opposition, wrecking the economy, and leaving its citizens in poverty.—
Kristina Foltz,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Waiting for news was torturous.—
Grace White,
Essence,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Hiking through the deep snow drifts above 26,000 feet is torturous and time consuming.—
Frederick Dreier,
Outside,
8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
On Friday, a big defensive play by Los Angeles Dodgers left fielder Kiké Hernández and an agonizing baserunning mistake by Toronto’s Addison Barger ended the game, setting up a winner-takes-all Game 7 on Saturday.—
Hailey Salvian,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
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For Morris, the hours after landfall were agonizing.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Domestic violence is a painful reality afflicting too many households in this country, which makes the words and actions of the current administration so egregious and hurtful.—
Gwen Moore,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Jewelry companies have begun raising the alarm over possible price increases afflicting already-weary consumers.—
J.D. Capelouto,
semafor.com,
7 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
According to the woman, her parents’ reasoning for denying her requests was rooted in a harsh lesson about independence.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
26 Oct. 2025
-
Instead of buying special cleaners or reaching for harsh chemicals to clean around your home, look to your medicine cabinet for a solution.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
25 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tormenting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tormenting. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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