1
as in agony
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in distress
a state of great suffering of body or mind
was in torment for weeks after he broke up with his girlfriend
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to plague
to cause persistent suffering to
he was tormented by nightmares about the accident
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of torment
Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 30 Aug. 2025
In Aronofsky’s cinematic universe, the ability to endure physical punishment functions as a touchstone for power, and, in his best work, torment takes on an intensely intimate dimension, creating extreme contrast with the larger dramatic landscape on which the action is stretched.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 28 Aug. 2025
Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2025
The three of them — plus Mary Ellen’s crush Bob — are then tormented by the spirits raised by Annabelle.
—Emily Palmer Heller, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for torment
Noun
His icy, anguished eyes—though both are the same color—convey all the torment a misfit on Earth might feel.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 30 Aug. 2025
In Aronofsky’s cinematic universe, the ability to endure physical punishment functions as a touchstone for power, and, in his best work, torment takes on an intensely intimate dimension, creating extreme contrast with the larger dramatic landscape on which the action is stretched.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 28 Aug. 2025
Verb
He’s tormented and has his own personal issues.
—Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2025
The three of them — plus Mary Ellen’s crush Bob — are then tormented by the spirits raised by Annabelle.
—Emily Palmer Heller, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for torment
Recent Examples of Synonyms for torment
Noun
-
Americans can channel the collective agony and frustration to encourage meaningful change, cooling down the division, making gun laws safer, opening genuinely constructive discussions, informing the public about the risks and calling on lawmakers to take real action.—
Arash Javanbakht,
The Conversation,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Other paintings by those presently or formerly incarcerated reflect on the agony of prison itself.—
Ray Mark Rinaldi,
Denver Post,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Those with suicide ideation might attempt suicide, but these attempts often represent a desire to escape distress as opposed to end-of-life issues.—
Eric Wood,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
-
In Pennsylvania, lawmakers have still not broken out of the impasse, spelling financial distress for schools and counties that rely particularly heavily on state funding.—
Isabella Volmert,
Fortune,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Moviegoers yearn for demons to be slayed.—
Alejandra Gularte,
Vulture,
16 Sep. 2025
-
An underworld demon named Skinback will be wearing the skin of one of the group home counselors.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In 1988, a catastrophic heat wave and drought plagued the United States, killing thousands of people and triggering over $80 billion in damage.—
Zack Savitsky,
Quanta Magazine,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Getty Images The Department of Education posted a new update on Monday on massive application backlogs plaguing several federal student loan forgiveness and repayment programs.—
Adam S. Minsky,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Microsoft’s security nightmare is coming true for more than 200 million Windows users.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
-
It’s been roughly 72 hours since Disney’s late-night nightmare started, and as of midday Friday in Hollywood, there’s still no word on when, or whether, Jimmy Kimmel will get his talk show back.—
Josef Adalian,
Vulture,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
When Meiyun is recalling her pain and telling her past, her body language always goes first.—
Jenny S. Li,
Variety,
20 Sep. 2025
-
The Smashing Machine traces three years in Kerr’s career, when his talents had begun to wane but his instincts still pushed him to focus on numbing the pain of his wounds.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
20 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Swift canceled three shows in Vienna, Austria, while on the European leg of the Eras Tour in August 2024 after authorities discovered a planned terror attack targeting her concerts.—
Lori A Bashian,
FOXNews.com,
20 Sep. 2025
-
Maduro is the head of the Cartel de los Soles, a narco-terror organization which has taken possession of a country.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
20 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The former human-rights lawyer entered on a tourist visa and filed for political asylum in October of that year, claiming the governments that succeeded Correa were persecuting him.—
Syra Ortiz Blanes,
Miami Herald,
12 Sep. 2025
-
The decree eliminated many of the civil liberties in Germany, opening the way for the Nazis to persecute their opponents.—
The Editors,
JSTOR Daily,
9 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Torment.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/torment. Accessed 23 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share