Meaning & use
tortured
Last updated
Showing or marked by great mental anguish or suffering.
See it in a sentence
The actor's tortured expression conveyed years of guilt without a single word.
Her tortured diary entries revealed just how much she was struggling.
A note on using this word
Often used to describe an artist, expression, or piece of writing marked by deep inner conflict rather than physical suffering.
Words with a similar meaning
anguisheddistressed
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
relaxedat ease
Another way to use it
2. adjective
Excessively strained, forced, or complicated
His tortured explanation only made the contract more confusing.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “tortured”, then compare your use with the examples above.
Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.