as in tease
a person who causes repeated emotional pain, distress, or annoyance to another
a sadistic torturer of men he regarded as weak, the drillmaster really had it in for one recruit
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Recent Examples of torturer
The film, which looks at a former political prisoner who considers violent revenge against his prison torturer, was co-written by Panahi, Mahmoudian, Nader Saeiver and Shadhmer Rastin.
—
Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 1 Feb. 2026
As my experience showed, a heavy reliance on physical abuse makes for proficient torturers, not skilled interrogators.
—Elizabeth Tsurkov, The Atlantic, 11 Jan. 2026
Hopper grabs El and leaves Kali behind to be captured by her torturers again.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 31 Dec. 2025
The overwhelming majority of experts dispute that torture actually works as an interrogation technique, arguing that any information that comes out of it is unreliable as people under duress will say anything needed to convince their torturers to stop.
—Ellen Mitchell, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2025
It might have been produced, and not merely set, in a torturer’s basement.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2025
Simply the possibility of taking some kind of revenge on the man who may or may not have been their torturer suddenly becomes an existential fact each person must confront in his or her own way.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2025
For decades, generals, coup-plotters, and torturers walked free under the shield of amnesty laws passed after the country’s 21-year dictatorship.
—Julia Vargas Jones, CNN Money, 12 Sep. 2025
Is the man actually his torturer?
—Zach Dennis, Charlotte Observer, 9 Sep. 2025
Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 1 Feb. 2026
As my experience showed, a heavy reliance on physical abuse makes for proficient torturers, not skilled interrogators.
—Elizabeth Tsurkov, The Atlantic, 11 Jan. 2026
Hopper grabs El and leaves Kali behind to be captured by her torturers again.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 31 Dec. 2025
The overwhelming majority of experts dispute that torture actually works as an interrogation technique, arguing that any information that comes out of it is unreliable as people under duress will say anything needed to convince their torturers to stop.
—Ellen Mitchell, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2025
It might have been produced, and not merely set, in a torturer’s basement.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2025
Simply the possibility of taking some kind of revenge on the man who may or may not have been their torturer suddenly becomes an existential fact each person must confront in his or her own way.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2025
For decades, generals, coup-plotters, and torturers walked free under the shield of amnesty laws passed after the country’s 21-year dictatorship.
—Julia Vargas Jones, CNN Money, 12 Sep. 2025
Is the man actually his torturer?
—Zach Dennis, Charlotte Observer, 9 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for torturer
Noun
-
And remember, this was just a tease.—
Zak Keefer,
New York Times,
11 Feb. 2026
-
In keeping with the travel tease of the film, its couples — including the presumptive one — head north to Siena and Gia’s family’s home.—
Lisa Kennedy,
Variety,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
And her tormentors are all abruptly, painfully departing the scene or, at the very least, becoming ensnared in one humiliation after another.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
16 Jan. 2026
-
Jeffrey Tambor is the corrupt Mayor of Whoville and the Grinch’s lifelong tormenter, Augustus May Who, who sets his hatred of Christmas in motion.—
Danny Horn,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Instead, the lawsuit argued, law enforcement in the area where the harasser lived should have served the papers.—
Idaho Statesman,
Idaho Statesman,
27 Dec. 2025
-
Moreover, when harassers disproportionately target women, people of color and LGBTQ officials, entire communities are systematically excluded from participation in self-governance.—
Ernestine Nettles,
Mercury News,
22 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Shakespeare humanizes the Elizabethan stage stereotype of the villainous Jew by giving Shylock ample reason for wanting to get back at his Christian persecutors.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Jan. 2026
-
Paul was a former persecutor of Christians who became a missionary and was later beheaded in Rome.—
Lori A Bashian , Larry Fink,
FOXNews.com,
23 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The podcast is a fascinating artifact, the tale of a woman still untangling her role as both victim and victimizer.—
Jillian Steinhauer,
New Yorker,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Even if online shaming continues, this accountability will make sure that the victimizer will face social consequences as well.—
Eli Thompson,
Rolling Stone,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The group is known for phishing and vishing attacks, where attackers impersonate IT or support staff to trick employees into handing over access.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
10 Feb. 2026
-
The attacker sped away in a red Nissan Altima, but that was the only clue investigators had for several years.—
Joseph Wilkinson,
New York Daily News,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Torturer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/torturer. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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