Word
tormented
Phoneticstor·ment·ed, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈtɔɹˌmɛntɪd/
UK/tɔːmˈɛntɪd/
Definition
adj. feeling great mental or physical pain. You use this to describe someone who is suffering deeply from worry, guilt, or sadness.
adj. experiencing intense mental or physical suffering. Often used predicatively after linking verbs like 'look' or 'seem' to describe a person's emotional state.
Examples
“He had a tormented look on his face all morning.”
“The artist was tormented by memories of the war, which influenced all of his later paintings.”
“In the novel's final chapters, the protagonist becomes a tormented figure, unable to reconcile his past mistakes with his current desire for redemption.”
Examples
simple
“He had a tormented look on his face all morning.”
contextual
“The artist was tormented by memories of the war, which influenced all of his later paintings.”
complex
“In the novel's final chapters, the protagonist becomes a tormented figure, unable to reconcile his past mistakes with his current desire for redemption.”
Usage
Often follows a linking verb or modifies a noun related to expression or thought.
Real-World Examples
“Warners had spent years allowing Snyder to turn its superheroes into tormented deities, then developed an urgent concern that none of them knew how to do banter.” “Hunger and disease have tormented Yemen for years.” - Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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