noun
tormentor
taw-MEHN-tuh
Tormentor (noun) means a person, animal, or thing that causes ongoing suffering or distress. Example: “His younger brother was his childhood tormentor.”
noun
1
A person, animal, or thing that causes ongoing suffering or distress.
"His younger brother was his childhood tormentor."
"The heat was the runners' biggest tormentor that afternoon."
2
In theatre, one of a pair of narrow curtains just behind the front curtain that hides the sides of the stage from the audience.
"The stagehand adjusted the tormentors before the lights came up."
How to use tormentor
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone or something that keeps causing you pain, stress, or misery.
Common pairings
childhood tormentor
chief tormentor
his old tormentor
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Word forms
- Plural
- tormentors
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
His younger brother was his childhood _____.
Etymology
From Anglo-Norman tourmentour, going back to Old French tormenteor — the same root as "torment."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for tormentor
See all rhymes for tormentor →Frequently asked questions
What does “tormentor” mean?
The word “tormentor” means a person, animal, or thing that causes ongoing suffering or distress. In plain terms, someone or something that keeps causing you pain, stress, or misery.
How do you pronounce “tormentor”?
“Tormentor” is pronounced taw-MEHN-tuh (/tɔɹˈmɛn.tɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “tormentor” in a sentence?
Here is “tormentor” used in a sentence: “His younger brother was his childhood tormentor.”
What part of speech is “tormentor”?
“Tormentor” is a noun.
Where does the word “tormentor” come from?
The word “tormentor” comes from Old French. From Anglo-Norman tourmentour, going back to Old French tormenteor — the same root as "torment.".
How many meanings does “tormentor” have?
“Tormentor” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person, animal, or thing that causes ongoing suffering or distress.
