The cruelty of the torture in the police station is beyond description.
Source: tatoeba (238402)
Torture
/ˈtoɹt͡ʃɚ/
Synonyms for "torture" (266 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (54)
Strong matches (79)
disadvantagedismemberdismembermentdisservedistortdistressdo a mischiefdo evildo illdo wrongdo wrong bydoomdraw and quarterenvenomestrapadeexcruciateexcruciatingnessexcruciationfesterfret
Show 51 more words
gallgalleysgantletgarblegauntletget into troubleget one wrongget wronggive painglossgnawgrategrillgrindgripeharasshard laborharmharrowheartbreakheartsicknesshellhell upon earthhexholocausthorrorhurtimpairimpaleimpalementimprisonmentincarcerationinfectinflameinflict paininjureiron heelirritatejailingjinxkeelhaulkeelhaulingkillkill by incheslaceratelacerationlancinatelancinationmaceratemaimmaltreat
Noun(7 words)
Verb(1 words)
Related words (133)
manglemartyrmartyrdommartyrizationmartyrizemenacemisapplymisapprehendmiscitemisconceivemisconstruemisdeemmisdirectmisexplainmisexplicatemisexpoundmisinterpretmisjudgemisquotemisread
Show 90 more words
misrendermisrepresentmisshapemistakemistranslatemistreatmisunderstandmisusemolestmutilatenightmarenipoppressoppressionoutragepainpassionpenal servitudepersecutepersecutionpervertpicketpicketingpicnicpiercepinchplagueplay havoc withplay hob withpoisonpolluteprejudiceprickprocrustean bedprolong the agonypunishpunishmentpurgatoryput to torturerackrailridingranklerasprideriprock pilerubsavagescarifyscarpinesscathescrewslantslaughtersmitesqueezestabstingstrainstrain the sensestrappadostrikesufferingtainttantalizetar and feathertar-and-featheringthe gantletthornthreatenthumbscrewtormenttormentingnesstorturousnesstrytweaktwisttwist the wordsvarnishviolatewarpwheelwindworrywoundwreak havocwreak havoc onwrenchwringwrong
Noun(18 words)
Verb(5 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: torment, agony, abuse, abuse, afflict.
- Sentence evidence is available for torture, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wiktionary, wordnet, opengloss, moby, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "torture".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "torture"
Keep "torture" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "torture" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "torture", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "torture" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
19 entriesShowing 16 of 19 words.
More specific
15 entriesagonizing delayelectric shock tortureelectrocutionemotional tortureisolationmental anguishonerous schedulepsychological pressurepsychological torturerack torturesleep deprivationsolitary confinementstress positionsstressful ordealwaterboarding
Collocations
8 entriesacts of torturephysical torturepsychological torturetorture chambertorture methodstorture techniquestorture victimswaterboarding
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
3 entriesTranslations
15 translations across 9 languages.
Armenian
1 entries- չարչարանք noun ("suffering of heart" imposed by one on another, in personal relationships)
Czech
1 entries- muka noun ("suffering of heart" imposed by one on another, in personal relationships)
German
1 entries- Tortur noun ("suffering of heart" imposed by one on another, in personal relationships)
Hungarian
1 entries- kínszenvedés noun ("suffering of heart" imposed by one on another, in personal relationships)
Macedonian
4 entries- ма́ка noun ("suffering of heart" imposed by one on another, in personal relationships)
- ма́чење noun ("suffering of heart" imposed by one on another, in personal relationships)
- стра́дање noun ("suffering of heart" imposed by one on another, in personal relationships)
- страда́ние noun ("suffering of heart" imposed by one on another, in personal relationships)
Norwegian
1 entries- tortur noun ("suffering of heart" imposed by one on another, in personal relationships)
Russian
3 entries- му́ка noun ("suffering of heart" imposed by one on another, in personal relationships)
- муче́ние noun ("suffering of heart" imposed by one on another, in personal relationships)
- страда́ние noun ("suffering of heart" imposed by one on another, in personal relationships)
Spanish
1 entries- suplicio noun ("suffering of heart" imposed by one on another, in personal relationships)
Turkish
2 entries- eziyet noun ("suffering of heart" imposed by one on another, in personal relationships)
- işkence noun ("suffering of heart" imposed by one on another, in personal relationships)
Sample sentences
21 total sentences available.
The torture made him confess to crimes he had not committed.
Source: tatoeba (241342)
The prisoner died under torture.
Source: tatoeba (266257)
His lecture on chemistry was nothing but torture.
Source: tatoeba (285654)
Showing 4 of 21 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "torture"?
Closest matches include torment, agony, abuse, abuse, afflict.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "torture"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.