# tormented

/ˈtɔɹˌmɛntɪd/ (US) · /tɔːmˈɛntɪd/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/tormented
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

feeling great mental or physical pain. You use this to describe someone who is suffering deeply from worry, guilt, or sadness.

For teachers: 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.

## Usage notes

- Often follows a linking verb or modifies a noun related to expression or thought.

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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.