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Definitions

torment

[tawr-ment, tawr-ment, tawr-ment] / tɔrˈmɛnt, ˈtɔr mɛnt, ˈtɔr mɛnt /
NOUN
severe mental distress
Synonyms
STRONGEST
affliction agony anguish misery pain persecution suffering torture
STRONG
annoyance bane bother excruciation harassment hell irritation nag nagging nuisance pest plague provocation rack scourge trouble vexation worry
WEAK
pain in the neck
Antonyms
STRONGEST
cheer comfort contentment happiness health help joy pleasure relief
STRONG
advantage aid assistance blessing delight good luck
WEAK
glee
VERB
distress or afflict
Synonyms
STRONGEST
afflict annoy bedevil bother harass hound hurt irritate mistreat molest nag pester plague smite tease torture vex
STRONG
abuse agonize bait bone break crucify devil distress excruciate harrow harry heckle pain persecute provoke punish rack trouble try worry wring
WEAK
drive bananas drive up the wall give a hard time play cat and mouse put through wringer rub salt in wound
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aid assist assuage calm delight help make happy please relieve soothe
STRONG
comfort commend compliment praise protect reward support

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Racked with torment over her proximity to evil, Hilda makes a desperate confession to a Catholic priest, who happens to be a New Englander.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 27, 2026

But the mother does not know what happened to him and describes the lack of answers as "mental torment".

From BBC • Feb. 20, 2026

There was nothing tidy about the torment of the Chilean miners, though they did get themselves organized.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 4, 2026

Tartakovsky conveys all of Spear’s torment, loneliness and the magnitude of his love with zero dialogue, only a wide-eyed stare into the distance as he lumbers along, pulled by the memory of an unfinished life.

From Salon • Feb. 1, 2026

They’d been a torment to her all day.

From "A Long Way from Chicago" by Richard Peck

Vocabulary lists containing torment

Number the Stars

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Achievement First 5th Grade IA 1 Words

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That Hurts! Synonyms for "Pain"

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