Definition

Adjective: 1. Experiencing severe mental or emotional suffering: Describes a state of intense psychological distress, anguish, or torment. 2. Twisted or strained unnaturally: Can describe something (like an argument or expression) that is contorted, forced, or made unnaturally complex.

Usage

• The primary use describes a person's internal state of severe mental or emotional pain.
• It can also be used figuratively to describe artistic expressions, arguments, or styles that seem painfully strained or convoluted.

Examples

• Describing mental/emotional pain:
  • She had a tortured look on her face as she recounted the story.
  • He was a tortured soul, haunted by memories of the war.
  • The tortured witness could barely speak through her tears.
• Describing something strained or convoluted:
  • The plot of the novel was overly complex and tortured.
  • He gave a tortured explanation that failed to convince anyone.

Advanced Usage

• "A tortured conscience": A conscience causing extreme guilt and remorse.
  • He lived with a tortured conscience after his betrayal.
• "Tortured logic": Reasoning that is unnecessarily complicated, strained, or illogical.
  • The lawyer's tortured logic confused the jury.

Variants and Related Words

• Torture (noun/verb): The act of inflicting severe pain; to inflict such pain.
  • Noun: The use of torture is prohibited.
  • Verb: They sought to torture him for information.
• Tormented (adjective): Very similar to "tortured," meaning suffering intensely, especially mentally.
• Anguished (adjective): Experiencing severe mental or physical pain.

Synonyms

• Tormented
• Anguished
• Agonized
• Distressed
• Harrowed

Antonyms

• Peaceful
• Untroubled
• Content
• Serene

Adjective

1. experiencing intense pain especially mental pain
   • an anguished conscience
   • a small tormented schoolboy
   • a tortured witness to another's humiliation