torturous
gb/tˈɔɹt͡ʃˌuəs/ us/tˈɔɹt͡ʃˌuəs/
C1
English
Senses
0 senses
adjective
C1
property
1
causing extreme pain or suffering
very painful or very upsetting
Usage pattern:
torturous [pain/experience/ordeal/treatment]
Common mistake:
Often confused with tortuous, which means ‘full of twists’ or ‘complicated’ (e.g., a tortuous road).
Synonyms
excruciating (Emphasizes intense pain, especially physical.)
|
agonizing (Highlights prolonged suffering or distress.)
|
harrowing (Focuses on emotionally traumatic suffering.)
Antonyms
painless (Without physical pain.)
|
pleasant (Enjoyable rather than distressing.)
|
comforting (Soothing instead of causing suffering.)
Collocations
torturous pain
|torturous experience
|torturous ordeal
|torturous treatment
|torturous agony
|torturous conditions
|torturous memories
|a torturous procedure
|a torturous injury
|torturous torture
Themes
health
|emotions
|violence
|human_experience
Examples
- The recovery was torturous, and he couldn’t sleep for days because of the pain.
- She described the interrogation as torturous and humiliating.
- For the hostages, the uncertainty was torturous.
Learner examples
- The pain was torturous.
- It was a torturous experience for him.
adjective
C1
property
2
extremely long and frustrating
very difficult and annoying for a long time
Usage pattern:
torturous [process/wait/journey/negotiations]
Common mistake:
If you mean ‘winding’ or ‘full of twists,’ use tortuous (a tortuous mountain road). Torturous is about suffering or intense discomfort.
Synonyms
gruelling (Stresses exhausting effort over time.)
|
arduous (More neutral; focuses on difficulty rather than suffering.)
|
miserable (Emphasizes how unpleasant it feels.)
Antonyms
easy (Not difficult to do or endure.)
|
smooth (Without problems or delays.)
|
straightforward (Simple and uncomplicated.)
Collocations
a torturous wait
|a torturous process
|a torturous journey
|torturous negotiations
|a torturous delay
|a torturous schedule
|a torturous commute
|torturous paperwork
|a torturous meeting
|torturous hours
Themes
daily_life
|work
|time
|emotions
Examples
- The visa application was a torturous process with endless forms and delays.
- It was a torturous two-hour meeting that solved nothing.
- The team called the final minutes of the match torturous because the clock seemed to stop.
Learner examples
- The wait felt torturous.
- Filling out the forms was torturous.
Grammar
Dictionary form
torturous
IPA
GB/tˈɔɹt͡ʃˌuəs/
US/tˈɔɹt͡ʃˌuəs/
Syllables & stress
tor - tur - ous (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (tor)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: torturous
- Comparative: torturouser
- Superlative: torturousest
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.