# torment

/ˈtɔɹˌmɛnt/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/torment
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. extreme suffering

noun · CEFR B2

great mental or physical pain that lasts for a long time.

For teachers: a state of intense physical or mental suffering; often used to describe prolonged anguish.

- The memory of the accident was a constant torment to him.
- The prisoner endured years of mental torment, isolated from any contact with the outside world or his family.

Usage: Often used as an uncountable noun when referring to the state of suffering.

### 2. a source of pain

noun · CEFR B2

something or someone that causes you a lot of trouble or pain.

For teachers: a person or thing that is a source of severe pain, annoyance, or anxiety.

- The noisy neighbors were a daily torment for the elderly couple.
- For the young athlete, the recurring knee injury became a persistent torment that threatened to end his professional career prematurely.

Usage: Commonly used as a countable noun in this sense.

### 3. to cause suffering

verb · CEFR B2

to make someone suffer a lot, either physically or mentally.

For teachers: to inflict severe physical or mental distress upon someone.

- The guilt of his mistake continued to torment him for years.
- The dictator was known to torment his political rivals with arbitrary arrests and public humiliations.

Usage: This is a transitive verb and requires a direct object.

### 4. to annoy repeatedly

verb · CEFR B2

to bother or tease someone in a cruel or annoying way.

For teachers: to harass or tease someone persistently; often implies a power imbalance or repetitive nature.

- The older boys used to torment him on the school bus every morning.
- The kitten would playfully torment the older dog by nipping at its tail whenever it tried to sleep.

## Examples

- The long wait for news was pure torment.
- He lived in constant torment after losing his home and all his belongings in the fire.
- The protagonist's internal torment is central to the novel, as he struggles to reconcile his personal desires with his professional obligations.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.