Meaning & use
tormented
Last updated
“tormented” is a form of “torment”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
adjectivecomparable
Suffering severe physical or mental pain, often over a long period.
Grammar: Used before a noun or after linking verbs like 'be', 'feel', 'look'.
Patterns
- be tormented by something
- a tormented expression
The tormented prisoner refused to speak.
She looked tormented by guilt after the accident.
His tormented mind could not find peace.
verbtransitive
Past tense and past participle of 'torment': caused someone to suffer greatly.
Grammar: Needs an object: torment someone. The base form is 'torment'.
Patterns
- tormented someone
- be tormented by something
The bullies tormented him for years.
He was tormented by nightmares after the war.
She tormented herself with thoughts of what might have been.
Word forms
| base form | torment |
|---|---|
| third person singular | torments |
| past tense | tormented |
| past participle | tormented |
| -ing form | tormenting |
Common combinations
- tormented by guilt
- He was tormented by guilt for weeks.
- tormented soul
- The novel's hero is a tormented soul.
- tormented cry
- A tormented cry came from the cell.
- mentally tormented
- She felt mentally tormented by the constant criticism.
Synonyms and how they differ
- tortured
- Very close in meaning but often suggests deliberate cruelty or extreme suffering; 'tormented' can also mean harassed repeatedly.
- anguished
- Focuses on the emotional pain itself rather than the cause; 'tormented' often implies an ongoing source of pain.
- harassed
- Means repeatedly annoyed or attacked, but does not always imply deep suffering.
Opposites
Word family
- torment noun
- Great physical or mental suffering.
- tormentor noun
- A person who causes someone else to suffer.
- tormenting adjective
- Causing great suffering.
Commonly confused: tormented or torment?
tormented vs torment
'Torment' is the base verb or the noun; 'tormented' is the past tense or the adjective.
Practice
Choose the correct form: 'She was ______ by memories of the accident.'
Choose one answer.
After 'was' we need the past participle 'tormented' to form the passive. 'Torment' is the base form and would be wrong here; 'tormenting' would make an active continuous tense, which does not fit the passive meaning.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “tormented”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.