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
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2
as in wrenching
intensely or unbearably painful
the post-infection treatment for rabies was as notoriously torturous as the disease itself
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Recent Examples of torturous
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
For those who survive, the war wages on in an insidious and torturous form: hunger.
—Daphne Ewing-Chow, Forbes, 5 Jan. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for torturous
Lindsay Schnell, The Athletic, 16 Jan. 2025
For those who survive, the war wages on in an insidious and torturous form: hunger.
—Daphne Ewing-Chow, Forbes, 5 Jan. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for torturous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for torturous
Adjective
-
While that decline was painful for COST holders, the stock bottomed in mid-May, five months before the S & P 500 ultimately found its own low in October 2022.—
Frank Cappelleri,
CNBC,
12 Mar. 2025
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Like witnessing a bad car crash, Ye’s (formerly known as Kanye West) latest episodes of hate speech and misogyny have been painful to watch and continue to elicit shock and dismay from every corner of the entertainment world.—
David Renzer,
Rolling Stone,
12 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Five years ago this week, the television industry rose to the challenge of keeping news, daytime and late-night talk shows and other topical series on the air during the harsh early months of the COVID pandemic.—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
12 Mar. 2025
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Smith isn’t alone in that sentiment, as other analysts and critics have shared his harsh review of Bronny’s performance in the NBA.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
12 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Otherwise, we’ll still be mired in this same agonizing debate.—
Sammy Roth,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2025
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Perhaps no vote was as agonizing for Senator Bill Cassidy, the Louisiana Republican and medical doctor, than his vote to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as President Trump’s health secretary.—
Sheryl Gay Stolberg,
New York Times,
6 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Michael, in a filmed conversation with Grace, claimed that his ex-wife had manipulated him and was cruel to Natalia.—
Fortesa Latifi,
Rolling Stone,
19 Mar. 2025
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In Season 2, a cruel winter brings new challenges and unfinished business to Jacob (Harrison Ford) and Cara (Helen Mirren) back at Dutton ranch.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
19 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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What could possibly motivate anyone to choose again and again to endure such excruciating pain?—
Tim Genske,
Forbes,
19 Mar. 2025
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But the end games were excruciating losses, usually in the national semifinals, once in the final, and once — just once — in the Sweet 16.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
11 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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An intense look at the world of competitive bodybuilding and remake of a Argentine thriller top our roundup of this week’s new films.—
Randy Myers,
The Mercury News,
20 Mar. 2025
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After the match finished in a 1-1 draw, Ferguson and West Ham’s unused substitutions had an intense running session on the Goodison Park pitch with a backroom staff member.—
Roshane Thomas,
The Athletic,
20 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Torturous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/torturous. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.
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