torturous

[ tawr-cher-uhs ]
See synonyms for torturous on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. pertaining to, involving, or causing torture or suffering.

Origin of torturous

1
First recorded in 1490–1500; from Anglo-French; Old French tortureus; see torture, -ous

confusables note For torturous

Torturous refers specifically to what involves or causes pain or suffering: prisoners working in the torturous heat; torturous memories of past injustice. Some speakers and writers use torturous for tortuous , especially in the senses “twisting, winding” and “convoluted”: a torturous road; torturous descriptions. Others, however, keep the two adjectives (and their corresponding adverbs) separate in all senses: a tortuous (twisting) road; tortuous (convoluted) descriptions; torturous (painful) treatments.

Other words from torturous

  • tor·tur·ous·ly, adverb

Words that may be confused with torturous

  • tortuous, torturous (see confusables note at the current entry)

Words Nearby torturous

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use torturous in a sentence