as in wrenching
intensely or unbearably painful
watched the final torturing moments of the game as the lead constantly shifted between the two teams
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for torturing
Noun
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But the researchers found that under the right conditions, the gravitational waves triggered by the quantum foam can sometimes generate exactly the right kind of deformations in space.—
Paul Sutter,
Space.com,
19 Jan. 2025 -
Rheology is a branch of physics that deals with the deformation and fluidity of matter.—
Leath Tonino,
Outside Online,
13 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Even better, these expert tips should make easing into healthier phone habits much more manageable (and way less torturous).—
Jenna Ryu,
SELF,
19 Jan. 2025
-
Fans rushed the floor after OSU secured the upset, a joyous celebration on a campus that’s been through the college realignment wringer, a torturous process that ultimately killed the Beavers’ conference.—
Lindsay Schnell,
The Athletic,
16 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
The suit cites the recent Supreme Court decision banning affirmative action and highlights civil rights cases in its argument, a new tactic many scholars have called a gross distortion of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.—
Bernhard Warner,
New York Times,
15 Feb. 2025
-
However, activists concerned with animal rights, the environment, the rights of farmers, and human health are already working to ease the distortions of the subsidy system and align government subsidies with recommendations as to what constitutes a healthy, sustainable diet.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
14 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
The first penalty trial featured agonizing testimony from O’Sullivan’s parents, friends and family, and took jurors through the details of the bloody scene in Del Paso Heights with videos, maps, photos and statements from other officers who had been at the scene.—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacramento Bee,
24 Feb. 2025
-
Over in the House, Republicans have been agonizing to come up with at least $2 trillion in spending cuts to pay for Mr. Trump’s fiscal agenda and placate their most conservative members.—
Catie Edmondson,
New York Times,
21 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Even less savory is the dwelling on body horror, with characters sporting sometimes inexplicable skin conditions or other deformities.—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
15 Jan. 2025
-
The only thing to be improved about Better Man is the title (not to be confused with A Different Man, the repugnant indie film about deformity).—
Armond White,
National Review,
10 Jan. 2025
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
Adjective
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The other story line tracks the family’s life in Europe before World War II, continues through the horrors his parents endured, the liberation of the death camps, an interlude in Sweden (where Artie was born) and a new, at times excruciating life in America.—
Manohla Dargis,
New York Times,
20 Feb. 2025
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Among the caterpillars Walker has studied are puss, or asp, caterpillars, whose stings can be excruciating.—
Ivan Amato,
Scientific American,
30 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
The pace is intense and the pressure can be overwhelming.—
Vibhas Ratanjee,
Forbes,
24 Feb. 2025
-
That was the idea of having this riff that was gonna be really intense, and probably pretty majestic as well, but quite intriguing.—
Kory Grow,
Rolling Stone,
24 Feb. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Torturing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/torturing. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.
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