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Tormenting - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

Tormenting means causing severe physical or mental suffering, often persistently. It can describe actions that deliberately inflict pain, distress, or harassment on someone, making their experience unbearable.

tormenting

/tɔrˈmɛntɪŋ/ /tɔːˈmɛntɪŋ/

Definition:

Causing severe physical or mental suffering or distress.

Synonyms:

torturing, harassing, afflicting, persecuting

Part of Speech:

adjective, verb (present participle)

Antonyms:

comforting, soothing

Common Collocations:

tormenting thoughts, tormenting pain, tormenting memories

Derivatives:

tormentor, tormentingly

Usage Tips:

Use "tormenting" to describe ongoing suffering or distress, often emotional or psychological in nature.

Common Phrases:

tormenting the soul, self-tormenting thoughts, tormenting doubts

Etymology:

From Latin *tormentum* (torture), via Old French *tormenter* (to inflict pain).

Examples:

  • 1. The dog kept tormenting the cat by chasing it around the house.
  • 2. Her guilt was tormenting her every night before she slept.
  • 3. The bully enjoyed tormenting his classmates during recess.
  • 4. The relentless rain was tormenting the farmers waiting to harvest their crops.

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