Cool MateThey were torturing him vs Torment
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
They were torturing him
Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Torment
Top 5,000 (fairly common)B1noun
Most common: Torment
| They were torturing him | Torment | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ˈtɔːtʃərɪŋ//🇺🇸 //ˈtɔrʧərɪŋ// | 🇬🇧 //ˈtɔː.mɛnt//🇺🇸 //ˈtɔːr.mɛnt// |
| Meaning | They were hurting him badly. | extreme pain or suffering |
| Example | They were torturing him for information about his friends. | The constant criticism was a source of great torment for her. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Beyond 10,000 (less common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| CEFR level | - | B1 |
| Part of speech | noun | |
| Collocations | brutally torturing, being tortured, torturing someone, torturing to extract information, torturing a prisoner | mental torment, physical torment, torture and torment, live in torment, feel torment |
| Antonyms | - | comfort, relief, pleasure |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'tormenting' which is less severe than torturing., Using in a joke; the context is often very serious., Incorrectly spelling as 'tourturing'. | Confusing 'torment' with 'torture' – 'torture' has a stronger, more physical connotation., Using 'torment' in sentences without the right context, especially in casual settings., Mispronouncing the word, leading to misunderstandings. |
| Usage notes | The word 'torturing' is serious and often used in formal contexts, especially when referring to illegal or unethical acts. It's not commonly used in everyday conversation. | Use 'torment' to describe severe emotional or physical suffering. It's neutral, suitable for both written and spoken contexts. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: They were torturing him vs Torment
What's the difference between They were torturing him and Torment?
They were torturing him: They were hurting him badly. Torment: extreme pain or suffering
Which is more common: They were torturing him and Torment?
Torment is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
They were torturing him: They were torturing him for information about his friends. Torment: The constant criticism was a source of great torment for her.
Can I use They were torturing him and Torment interchangeably?
Not always. They were torturing him and Torment are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.