: implying or involving tort
tortious acts
tortiously adverb

Examples of tortious in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The suit makes three claims against the organization (defamation, tortious interference and injurious falsehood) and asks a judge to award Barth and his firm more than $10 million in damages. Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 7 July 2026 Asserting claims for tortious interference, civil conspiracy, commercial disparagement and violations of Illinois consumer fraud laws, the Butlers sought more than $50 million in compensatory damages and over $200 million in punitive damages. Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 22 June 2026 But in a counterclaim, Carbonatik submitted an answer denying all claims made by Heavy Metal Capital and countersued for various causes of action, including breach of contract, defamation, and tortious interference. Kathleen Perricone, Entertainment Weekly, 17 June 2026 And in March, van Keulen dismissed one of the Mountain West’s counterclaims against the Pac-12 but ruled two others could proceed to trial, most notably the tortious interference claims. Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for tortious

Word History

First Known Use

1544, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tortious was in 1544

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Cite this Entry

“Tortious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tortious. Accessed 13 Jul. 2026.

Legal Definition

tortious

adjective
: constituting a tort : recognized as a tort
a tortious act
tortious interference with contract
tortiously adverb
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