adj

tortured

TAWT-shuhd

adj

Showing the effects of great suffering or inner turmoil.

"The artist was known for his tortured, restless genius."

"Her tortured expression revealed how much the decision cost her."

Awkwardly overcomplicated, especially describing writing or reasoning.

"The essay was full of tortured sentences that were hard to follow."

How to Use Tortured

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishDeeply troubled or anguished, or (of writing) painfully convoluted.

Common pairings

tortured soul tortured logic tortured prose

more tortured comparative, most tortured superlative

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The artist was known for his _____, restless genius.

figured injured assured secured insured scoured coloured captured favoured measured honoured laboured