torment
1 of 2noun
tor·ment ˈtȯr-ˌment 
1
: extreme pain or anguish of body or mind : agony
She wrung her hands piteously together, looking like a soul in torment.
Lucy Maud Montgomery
Lucy Maud Montgomery2
: a source of vexation or pain
Love is a delight; but hate a torment. Herman Melville
Herman Melville… the twin torments of his probable manic depression and chronic stomach pains. Neal Karlen
Neal Karlen3
: the infliction of torture (as by rack or wheel)
torment
2 of 2verb
tor·ment tȯr-ˈment ˈtȯr-ˌment
ˈtȯr-ˌment tormented; tormenting; torments
transitive verb
1
: to cause severe usually persistent or recurrent distress of body or mind to
cattle tormented by flies
tormented by doubt
She liked me, but she laughed at me, and tormented me … Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens2
: distort, twist
tormented adjective
… Emily—who is easily one of the most tormented characters of the show … Rowan Born
Rowan Born The Witch makes the mundane sinister, from the tormented shapes of the corn husks in the field to the weird glow of pewter by candlelight. Katy Waldman
Katy Waldman 
Synonyms
Noun
- agony
- Gehenna
- hell
- horror
- misery
- murder
- nightmare
- torture
Verb
- afflict
- agonize
- anguish
- bedevil
- beset
- besiege
- curse
- excruciate
- harrow
- persecute
- plague
- rack
- torture
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Noun No one could understand his inner torment. After years of torment, she left her husband. The mosquitoes were a constant torment. Verb Not knowing where she was tormented him. he was tormented by nightmares about the accident
Recent Examples on the Web Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2022 The same spiritual torment has afflicted them in different ways. Sam Sacks, WSJ, 5 Aug. 2022 But on Friday, the Dodgers’ recent torment of the Padres persisted. Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 5 Aug. 2022 Alma, about to take her vows, is visited by her brother Erik, who reveals a secret tragedy in the past, plunging Alma into torment. John Hopewell, Variety, 28 July 2022 Wright does pensive sternness and Paul does frazzled torment better than just about anybody. Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 June 2022 The 49ers wide receiver was thrilled that head coach Kyle Shanahan, an exacting ex-college wideout, would have a new target to torment. Eric Branch, San Francisco Chronicle, 7 Aug. 2022 One particular Yulin celebrant will select this animal and decide this—this heart-wrenching display of agonizing torment—is today’s lunch. Liza Lentini, SPIN, 16 June 2022 Japanese Breakfast, led by budding superstar Michelle Zauner, turns personal longing, torment, love and confusion into ethereal indie pop songs. Patrick Foster, Washington Post, 16 June 2022 Reina Sultan, Essence, 11 Sep. 2022 Years on end of poor stock returns would torment anyone who isn’t prepared for a long grind. Jason Zweig, WSJ, 20 May 2022 Why torment yourself awaiting an apology that is not likely to come – or an apology that sounds lame. Terry Pluto, cleveland, 4 June 2022 All the shame, all the self-doubt, all the embarrassment, all the frustration of the scam, all back to torment her once again. Susan Tompor, Detroit Free Press, 30 June 2022 Never underestimate the creativity of a show that once had a character bury her rival alive — and then torment her through a walkie-talkie. Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 28 June 2022 Vecna is the most sinister villain of the series, who psychologically preys on teens’ worst fears to torment and kill them. Jackie Strause, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 June 2022 José Leonardo Araujo, a 33-year-old lawyer in Caracas, has spent his adult life in and out of therapy to deal with the suicidal thoughts that torment him at least monthly. Ana Vanessa Herrero, Washington Post, 21 June 2022 At Carlisle and across the country, children were taken far from their families, banned from speaking their languages and cut off from their culture, a legacy that continues to torment tribes and families today. Jeff Gammage, Anchorage Daily News, 13 May 2022 See More
Noun
The hostility and her increasing isolation send her into a state of mental torment and confusion. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2022 The same spiritual torment has afflicted them in different ways. Sam Sacks, WSJ, 5 Aug. 2022 But on Friday, the Dodgers’ recent torment of the Padres persisted. Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 5 Aug. 2022 Alma, about to take her vows, is visited by her brother Erik, who reveals a secret tragedy in the past, plunging Alma into torment. John Hopewell, Variety, 28 July 2022 Wright does pensive sternness and Paul does frazzled torment better than just about anybody. Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 June 2022 The 49ers wide receiver was thrilled that head coach Kyle Shanahan, an exacting ex-college wideout, would have a new target to torment. Eric Branch, San Francisco Chronicle, 7 Aug. 2022 One particular Yulin celebrant will select this animal and decide this—this heart-wrenching display of agonizing torment—is today’s lunch. Liza Lentini, SPIN, 16 June 2022 Japanese Breakfast, led by budding superstar Michelle Zauner, turns personal longing, torment, love and confusion into ethereal indie pop songs. Patrick Foster, Washington Post, 16 June 2022 Verb
The agency, through the directives of this initiative, used surveillance to psychologically torment, blackmail, charge, prosecute, and smear activists—most of whom were Black. Reina Sultan, Essence, 11 Sep. 2022 Years on end of poor stock returns would torment anyone who isn’t prepared for a long grind. Jason Zweig, WSJ, 20 May 2022 Why torment yourself awaiting an apology that is not likely to come – or an apology that sounds lame. Terry Pluto, cleveland, 4 June 2022 All the shame, all the self-doubt, all the embarrassment, all the frustration of the scam, all back to torment her once again. Susan Tompor, Detroit Free Press, 30 June 2022 Never underestimate the creativity of a show that once had a character bury her rival alive — and then torment her through a walkie-talkie. Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 28 June 2022 Vecna is the most sinister villain of the series, who psychologically preys on teens’ worst fears to torment and kill them. Jackie Strause, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 June 2022 José Leonardo Araujo, a 33-year-old lawyer in Caracas, has spent his adult life in and out of therapy to deal with the suicidal thoughts that torment him at least monthly. Ana Vanessa Herrero, Washington Post, 21 June 2022 At Carlisle and across the country, children were taken far from their families, banned from speaking their languages and cut off from their culture, a legacy that continues to torment tribes and families today. Jeff Gammage, Anchorage Daily News, 13 May 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English, from Anglo-French turment, torment, from Latin tormentum torture; akin to torquēre to twist — more at torture entry 1
First Known Use
Noun
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing torment
Kids Definition
torment 1 of 2
verb
tor·ment tȯr-ˈment
tormented; tormenting
1
: to cause severe suffering of body or mind to
Flies tormented the cattle.
2
: vex sense 1, harass
All last year we tormented Webb. Mostly little stuff, like messing with his locker … Jerry Spinelli, Crash
Jerry Spinelli, Crashtorment
2 of 2noun
tor·ment ˈtȯr-ˌment
1
: extreme pain or distress of body or mind
2
: a cause of suffering in mind or body The waiting was torment.
torments 1 of 2
noun
1
as in tortures
a situation or state that causes great suffering and unhappiness the released soldiers gave interviews trying to explain to civilians the torment that prisoners of war experience Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- tortures
- nightmares
- agonies
- horrors
- miseries
- hells
- curses
- murders
- ordeals
- tragedies
- misfortunes
- tribulations
- calamities
- Gehennas
- afflictions
- trials
- crosses
- thorns
- galls
- drags
- calvaries
- downers
- bummers
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- heavens
- pleasures
- joys
- delights
- fun
- entertainments
- diversions
- recreations
- riots
- paradises
- picnics
- larks
2
as in distresses
a state of great suffering of body or mind was in torment for weeks after he broke up with his girlfriend Synonyms & Similar Words
- distresses
- pains
- agonies
- miseries
- anguishes
- tortures
- tribulations
- woes
- straits
- pangs
- hurts
- sorrows
- discomforts
- afflictions
- travails
- hardships
- racks
- dangers
- heartbreaks
- excruciations
- heartaches
- troubles
- difficulties
- aches
- emergencies
- crosses
- crucibles
- rigors
- trials
- throes
- asperities
- stitches
- twinges
- pinches
- jeopardies
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- consolations
- solaces
- comforts
- eases
- alleviations
- reliefs
- assuagements
- securities
- peaces
- well-beings
3
as in demons
a source of persistent emotional distress insomnia that was caused by a host of nighttime torments Synonyms & Similar Words
- demons
- terrors
- afflictions
- hang-ups
- daemons
- bugaboos
- hobgoblins
- bugbears
- ogres
- bêtes noires
- bogeys
- bogies
torments
2 of 2verb
as in plagues
to cause persistent suffering to he was tormented by nightmares about the accident Synonyms & Similar Words
- plagues
- tortures
- persecutes
- afflicts
- anguishes
- attacks
- curses
- besieges
- troubles
- besets
- agonizes
- harrows
- bothers
- bedevils
- racks
- stings
- distresses
- excruciates
- strikes
- pursues
- assails
- annoys
- disturbs
- aggravates
- discomforts
- pains
- dogs
- harasses
- worries
- hounds
- oppresses
- stresses
- harries
- overwhelms
- irritates
- exasperates
- disquiets
- grieves
- molests
- bugs
- hurts
- vexes
- pangs
- pesters
- rides
- badgers
- irks
- tyrannizes
- agitates
- gripes
- upsets
- riles
- tries
- grates
- chafes
- nettles
- peeves
- smites
- stabs
- flusters
- strains
- perturbs
- victimizes
- pricks
- piques
- galls
- martyrs
- rasps
- discomposes
- crushes
- overpowers
- wrings
- smarts
- puts out
- gets
- hagrides
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- aids
- abets
- relieves
- assists
- helps
- soothes
- comforts
- contents
- releases
- delivers
- quiets
- solaces
- succors
- consoles
- reprieves