1
as in persecuted
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in distorted
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
as in tormented
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tortured
Verb
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An immigration surge prior to last year’s homeless count likely distorted the picture of homelessness in the country, according to a Los Angeles Times analysis of research by University of Pennsylvania professor Dennis Culhane, a leading national expert on homelessness.—
Michael Smolens,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
21 Mar. 2025 -
But the excitement over defeating the evil scientists and saving the damsel is distorted by the sound of Gemma’s distressed cries.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Ringo was yellow submarines and octopus gardens, the mascot little brother, despite being the eldest Beatle, and the best at flittering above the feuds that afflicted the trio of geniuses around him.—
Mark Leibovich,
The Atlantic,
31 Mar. 2025
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Unfortunately, this fresh ailment has afflicted him for the majority of his 2024-25 run.—
Paul Du Quenoy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Crashing out is a slang term used to negatively describe emotional overload or emotional dysregulation that presents as sudden, angry, frustrated, or distressing emotional outbursts or behaviors.—
Angelica Bottaro,
Verywell Health,
20 July 2025
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There are signs Washington is increasingly frustrated with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Axios reported, especially after Israel struck Syria’s capital last week.—
J.D. Capelouto,
semafor.com,
20 July 2025
Verb
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In recent months, the Kennedy Center has been besieged by performance cancelations both voluntary and involuntary.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
26 Mar. 2025
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At the start of the invasion, Russian troops besieged the city, forcing residents to endure harsh winter conditions without electricity or water under constant shelling from Russian artillery, missiles and drones.—
Illia Novikov,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The ball curled through the proverbial eye of a needle, between Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez, and behind Alexis Mac Allister, who was forced to spin on his heels.—
Laurie Whitwell,
The Athletic,
5 Jan. 2025
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The old woman, though, stares at the screen, the shadow of a smile curled into her lips and a frown barely creasing her forehead.—
Matthew Bremner,
Rolling Stone,
5 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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But summer back in New York, amid the fug of the city, requires a return to a tested and true formula.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
22 June 2025
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The End Kidney Deaths Act finally offers a tested and reasonable solution.—
Lindsay Gutierrez,
Baltimore Sun,
13 May 2025
Adjective
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While there have been notable declines in other major categories when compared to the first six months of 2024, crimes such as rape and aggravated assaults saw a sharp spike of 47% and 41% respectively in the first half of 2025.—
Hema Sivanandam,
Mercury News,
22 July 2025
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Bautista-Reyes illegally entered the U.S. in 2021 during the Biden administration and was arrested by the Wayne Township, New Jersey, Police Department May 3 for aggravated assault, attempt to cause bodily injury, terroristic threats and possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes.—
Greg Norman,
FOXNews.com,
18 July 2025
Adjective
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When Noah Wyle reunited with ER producers John Wells and R. Scott Gemmill to make HBO Max’s The Pitt, the plan was to offer a realistic portrayal of healthcare today through the lens of harried pros working in a fictitious Pittsburgh hospital.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
20 May 2025
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Saleh juggles these dual narrative strands — the troubled movie shoot and Fahmy’s harried personal life — with relative ease, even if there are moments when the plot feels a tad convoluted.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
19 May 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Tortured.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tortured. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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