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
The push comes as nine inmates on death row filed a lawsuit in Davidson County Chancery Court in March saying the state’s new one-drug execution protocol brings the risk of a torturous death and has fewer safeguards compared to the previous protocol.
—
Kelly Puente, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
My Mom Died is a harrowing read that traces McCurdy’s torturous relationship with her mother, which included highly invasive inspections of her body, an extreme low-calorie diet designed to keep her weight low, and a bathing ritual where her mother would shave her legs.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 1 July 2025
Instead, Jaws’s torturous production forged a generational filmmaker.
—Mark Hughes, Forbes.com, 21 June 2025
Sunday ended in the rubble of a torturous eighth inning, when the Tigers went from winning 4-2 to losing 6-4 in the rubber match against the Reds.
—Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 16 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for torturous
Kelly Puente, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
My Mom Died is a harrowing read that traces McCurdy’s torturous relationship with her mother, which included highly invasive inspections of her body, an extreme low-calorie diet designed to keep her weight low, and a bathing ritual where her mother would shave her legs.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 1 July 2025
Instead, Jaws’s torturous production forged a generational filmmaker.
—Mark Hughes, Forbes.com, 21 June 2025
Sunday ended in the rubble of a torturous eighth inning, when the Tigers went from winning 4-2 to losing 6-4 in the rubber match against the Reds.
—Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 16 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for torturous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for torturous
Adjective
-
Higher temperatures can be too hot for a dog’s paw pads and, in some cases, can cause painful burns.—
Cody Godwin,
USA Today,
22 July 2025
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The tents are overrun by mosquitoes and other large insects, subjecting people to frequent and painful insect bites.—
Steve Bousquet,
The Orlando Sentinel,
22 July 2025
Adjective
-
The harsh reality is this: not all cell phone forensic extractions are created equal, and the most important evidence for trucking cases on the smartphone will be gone in days or weeks.—
Lars Daniel,
Forbes.com,
22 July 2025
-
Late-night talk shows across the board are facing the harsh reality that declines in ad revenue can’t make up for burgeoning production costs.—
Liam Reilly,
CNN Money,
22 July 2025
Adjective
-
After twenty agonizing minutes of missiles, the all-clear sounded.—
Debbie Koristz,
Sun Sentinel,
11 July 2025
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For eight agonizing days, M. Paul Traynor, a native of Dublin, Ireland, who has lived in Easton, Maryland, for the past 35 years, was left desperately searching for his missing dog.—
Jack Beresford,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 July 2025
Adjective
-
Each of us should demand our local leaders challenge every one of the immoral and cruel state laws and the Gestapo-like raids and inhumane detainments carried out by ICE agents.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 July 2025
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Even critics who considered his policies cruel and racist – and there were many – admitted that behind the bluster there was the charm of a true believer.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
12 July 2025
Adjective
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That story isn’t about the nurse so much as the patients who saw their excruciating pain systematically ignored, and Burton conveys them as a kind of Greek chorus, individual voices cycling in and out to conjure a sense of collective experience.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
10 July 2025
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Simon’s excruciating back pain previously forced him to cancel his June 27 and 28 shows in Philadelphia.—
Rachel Flynn,
People.com,
3 July 2025
Adjective
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The finish is long and intense, with lingering orchard fruits and spices.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes.com,
16 July 2025
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People should avoid long and intense outdoor activity and stay inside when possible, NWS advises.—
Maia Pandey,
jsonline.com,
15 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Torturous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/torturous. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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