tortures 1 of 2

noun

plural of torture
1
as in nightmares
a situation or state that causes great suffering and unhappiness it's torture for me to see you so unhappy

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2
as in pains
a state of great suffering of body or mind spent an afternoon in torture waiting to hear whether her brother had made it home safely

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tortures

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of torture
1
as in plagues
to cause persistent suffering to the neighbor's dog constantly tortures our cat, barking at him and chasing him down the street

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2
as in distorts
to twist (something) out of a natural or normal shape or condition tortured her naturally straight hair into curls

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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 tortures
Noun
Tykes get slapped around, shot with arrows and dangled in traffic — tortures that are played seriously, but the shock of them allows you to guffaw. — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026 But such judgments often come from a place of distance—from people who have never lived under a theocracy that imprisons, tortures, and kills with impunity. — Nazanin Boniadi, Time, 11 Mar. 2026 In that final part of the cycle—the writing part—were torments, perhaps even tortures, but good things happened. — Jake Lundberg, The Atlantic, 19 Feb. 2026 Former Jews deemed insufficiently converted faced the Spanish Inquisition’s tortures. — David Bloom, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Verb
After Max tortures them in a mock-trial confrontation in their living room, Tom eventually tackles Max into the backyard pool. — Benjamin Vanhoose, PEOPLE, 31 July 2026 On his latest Hyperdub release, the Japanese producer born Takahide Higuchi sings more than on previous records but tortures his voice through a gauntlet of pitch-shifter effects. — Daniel Bromfield, Pitchfork, 27 July 2026 Later, in one of the movie's most satisfying scenes, Millie locks Andrew in the attic and tortures him by loudly smashing each plate. — Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Dec. 2025 The mistake tortures them, which prompts the couple to try and solve the mystery by producing a fake play in an attempt to get their ex-neighbor Mary (Chloe Cherry) to audition. — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 3 Oct. 2025 The 1990 Kathy Bates-James Caan starrer remains one of Hollywood’s finest horror pieces, with Bates winning an Oscar for her role as the obsessive fan Annie Wilkes, who tortures author Paul Sheldon (Caan) while holding him hostage in her remote cabin. — Deborah Wilker, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tortures
  1. nightmares
  2. pains
  3. plagues
  4. distorts
  5. horrors
  6. distresses
  7. persecutes
  8. contorts
Noun
  • But her kindly and supportive cop boyfriend Nick (Brandon Perea) rightly insists that the duo should perhaps move out of the house when Gemma’s habitual nightmares intensify.
    — Tomris Laffly, Variety, 19 Aug. 2026
  • As the title suggests, the film indeed opens with a dream, one that emerges from the nightmares of history.
    — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of nightmares
Noun
  • Nielsen has taken great pains to caution that there is no guarantee that ratings gains will accompany these changes, which are being implemented to further improve the accuracy of its data gathering.
    — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 19 Aug. 2026
  • If an infected person has trouble breathing, persistent chest pains or pressure, loses consciousness or sudden confusion, call 911.
    — Hali Smith, Idaho Statesman, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of pains
Verb
  • Too often, this means taxpayer dollars are fueling the very gun violence that plagues neighborhoods and communities nationwide.
    — Kris Brown, Chicago Tribune, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Odd moment plagues fourth quarter As the Knicks held on to their fairly sizable lead, a fan ran onto the court, tried to take a selfie with Wembanyama but was quickly apprehended by security.
    — Jacob Lev, CNN Money, 4 June 2026
Definition of plagues
Verb
  • Whether the behavior develops, stalls, or distorts is not just a function of effort.
    — Mary Crossan, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
  • The narrative that choice schools funnel funds away from local districts distorts Connecticut public school funding.
    — Leonard Lockhart, Hartford Courant, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of distorts
Noun
  • What is also clear is that while Disney may or may not have first heard of the horrors Lee went through in 2001 just a few months ago, this four-claim action is not the first time the actress has had lawyers involved fallout from Poof Point.
    — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Also missing is any clear acknowledgment of Singer’s fear for the horrors in store for Antonapoulos, and the dramatic irony created by Antonapoulos’ own seeming obliviousness to how his life is being upended.
    — Billy J. Stratton, The Conversation, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of horrors
Noun
  • Pain, infection, medication side effects, and other physical and emotional distresses may be expressed through shouting, intimidating gestures, kicking, pushing, or punching.
    — Jordan Rau, NPR, 19 July 2026
Definition of distresses
Verb
  • China, which jails human rights activists in Hong Kong, persecutes Uyghurs, has killed hundreds of thousands of Tibetans and has committed genocide against the Falun Gong, is on the UN Human Rights Council.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 18 Feb. 2026
  • In Russia, the civilian repressive apparatus persecutes the military, which leaps at every chance for revenge.
    — Stephen Kotkin, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
Definition of persecutes
Verb
  • Monk’s music contorts into an ecstatic dance, one more befitting of a ritual trance state than a night at the Five Spot.
    — Levi Dayan, Pitchfork, 11 May 2026
  • Bridges contorts his body, and jacks up an errant layup, but the play isn’t done there.
    — Fred Katz, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
Definition of contorts

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Cite this Entry

“Tortures.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tortures. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

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