torturing 1 of 3

adjective

Definition of torturingnext
as in wrenching
intensely or unbearably painful watched the final torturing moments of the game as the lead constantly shifted between the two teams

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torturing

2 of 3

noun

as in deformation
the twisting of something out of a natural or normal shape or condition fans of the natural look frown on the torturing of garden trees and shrubs into fantastic shapes

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torturing

3 of 3

verb

present participle of torture
1
as in persecuting
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in distorting
to twist (something) out of a natural or normal shape or condition tortured her naturally straight hair into curls

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for torturing
  1. deformation
  2. torturous
  3. distortion
  4. agonizing
  5. deformity
  6. afflicting
  7. excruciating
  8. intense
Noun
  • Causes of Friction Blisters Friction blisters on the feet are caused by three elements: the motion of bone, high friction force, and the repetition of shear stress, which is when a force causes the deformation of an object by creating slippage along a flat surface that is parallel to the force.
    Laura Schober, Health, 27 Dec. 2024
  • In 2018, a team of French physicists developed a rudimentary mathematical model to describe the deformation of a common type of knit.
    Ars Technica, Ars Technica, 27 Dec. 2024
Definition of deformation
Adjective
  • Editor’s picks ‘Brutal beatings’ Cooper and hundreds of Dozier students accused school wardens of torturous abuse over minor infractions, like whippings, beatings, forced labor, and medical neglect.
    CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 15 Dec. 2024
  • Minuscule, meticulous, torturous, and incomprehensible to most mortals.
    Jean-Philippe Toussaint, Harper's Magazine, 22 July 2024
Definition of torturous
Noun
  • Works transposed into foreign languages—and cultures—inevitably suffer omissions and distortion.
    Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 14 Jan. 2025
  • The economic distortions created by centralized monetary policy, and the trillions in debt, inflationary pressures, and regulatory overreach that follow are not going away anytime soon.
    Dave Birnbaum, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025
Definition of distortion
Adjective
  • No one wants to leave as the agonizing identification process takes place.
    Beomsu Jo, NBC News, 31 Dec. 2024
  • Despite timely access to treatment often being critical to recovery, new patients in the U.S. face an agonizing 26-day wait to see a physician on average.
    Max Votek, Forbes, 26 Dec. 2024
Definition of agonizing
Noun
  • The film starred John Hurt as Joseph (John) Merrick, an English man with severe physical deformities who was largely shunned by society, and Anthony Hopkins as Frederick Treves, a doctor who befriended Merrick.
    Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 16 Jan. 2025
  • One fan was producer Stuart Cornfeld, who worked with Mel Brooks, and eventually tapped Lynch to direct The Elephant Man, a drama based on the life of Joseph Herrick, an English artist with severe physical deformities.
    Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 16 Jan. 2025
Definition of deformity
Verb
  • An audacious plan In the mid-1980s, global health agencies were otherwise occupied and heads of state largely overlooked the illness afflicting millions of their citizens.
    Sam Mednick, Chicago Tribune, 30 Dec. 2024
  • The United States now suffers from twin pathologies—one afflicting the health of its citizens and the other the health of its political system.
    Thomas J. Bollyky, Foreign Affairs, 30 Jan. 2020
Definition of afflicting
Adjective
  • When the Carter Center began eradication efforts against Guinea worm disease in 1986, about 3.5 million people across 21 countries were afflicted with the excruciating condition.
    Bill Marsh, New York Times, 31 Dec. 2024
  • Bieber threw 12 shutout innings in his first two starts and struck out 20, but excruciating pain in both starts left him with no choice.
    Jason Lloyd, The Athletic, 29 Dec. 2024
Definition of excruciating
Adjective
  • In 2021, a storm killed over 240 people and left millions of residents without power sparking intense backlash for ERCOT.
    Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 8 Jan. 2025
  • Flames were pushed by intense wind gusts that officials had warned could fuel any spark into a fast-moving and erratic wildfire.
    Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2025
Definition of intense
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.

Thesaurus Entries Near torturing

tortures

torturing

torturous

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Cite this Entry

“Torturing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/torturing. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on torturing

Nglish: Translation of torturing for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of torturing for Arabic Speakers

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