torment
15 synonyms and 1 antonym for torment, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — Severe physical or mental suffering.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
Severe physical or mental suffering.
“The years of chronic pain were a constant torment.”
torture
worrying
curse
harassment
rack
agony
rag
dun
anguish
crucify
badgering
frustrate
bedevil
excruciate
bedevilment
Opposites
How to use torment
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
mental torment
tormented by guilt
endless torment
Etymology
From Old French torment, from Latin tormentum ("an instrument of torture" or "something twisted"), from torquere, "to twist".
Full origin of torment →Frequently asked questions
What does “torment” mean?
The word “torment” means severe physical or mental suffering. In plain terms, intense suffering, or to deliberately cause someone that kind of suffering.
How do you pronounce “torment”?
“Torment” is pronounced TAW-mehnt (/ˈtɔː(ɹ)mɛnt/ in IPA).
How do you use “torment” in a sentence?
Here is “torment” used in a sentence: “The years of chronic pain were a constant torment.”
What part of speech is “torment”?
Depending on how it is used, “torment” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “torment” come from?
The word “torment” comes from Latin. From Old French torment, from Latin tormentum ("an instrument of torture" or "something twisted"), from torquere, "to twist".
Is “torment” a common word?
“Torment” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “torment” have?
“Torment” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: severe physical or mental suffering.
