Standard Lemma guide

tormentor

noun · 8 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /tɔːˈmɛn.tə(ɹ)/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Canada, US: /tɔɹˈmɛn.tɚ/
  • Australian: /toːˈmen.tə(ɹ)/
  • rhymes with -ɛntə(ɹ)
  • CMU ARPABET: T AO1 R M EH2 N T ER0 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

One who torments; a person, animal, or object that causes suffering.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

One who torments; a person, animal, or object that causes suffering.

A person delegated to torture prisoners.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: archaic

Examples

  • 1933, Hervey Allen, Anthony Adverse, New York: Farrar and Rinehart, Volume 1, Book 1, Chapter 6, p. 78, Her eyes rested on him for an instant like those of an accused person seeing the state tormentor approach for the first time.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

Something abstract that causes suffering.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively

Examples

  • 1759, Adam Smith, The Theory of Moral Sentiments, Edinburgh: A. Kincaid and J. Bell, Part 1, Section 1, p. 10, The infant [...] feels only the uneasiness of the present instant, which can never be great. With regard to the future it is perfectly secure, and in its thoughtlessness and want of foresight possesses an antidote against fear and anxiety, the great tormentors of the human breast, from which reason and philosophy will in vain attempt to defend it when it grows up to a man.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: scourge

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

One of a pair of narrow curtains just behind the front curtain and teaser that mask the areas on the sides of the stage and can be adjusted to the desired width.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: entertainment, lifestyle, theater

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

An implement for reducing a stiff soil, resembling a harrow, but running upon wheels.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

noun

Meaning 6

A long meat-fork.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: obsolete

Topics: nautical, transport

Examples

  • 1813, Charles Stewart, enclosure in a letter to the Secretary of the Navy, dated 18 October, 1813, in William S. Dudley (editor), The Naval War of 1812: A Documentary History, Washington D.C.: Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy, 1992, Volume 2, p. 392, Cabin furniture received onboard the U.S.F. Constellation at Washington [...] 1 Cleaver and tormentors/Cook; [footnote:] A tormentor is a long iron meat fork used by sea cooks.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

noun

Meaning 7

a flat at each side of the stage to prevent the audience from seeing into the wings

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: tormenter, teaser

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: flat

8

noun

Meaning 8

someone who torments

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: tormenter, persecutor

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: oppressor

Narrower terms: harasser, pest, blighter, cuss, pesterer, gadfly, tantalizer, tantaliser, witch-hunter

History

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman tourmentour, from Old French tormenteor.

Across languages

Translations

18 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: мъчител (mǎčitel) — someone who torments
  • Catalan: turmentador — someone who torments
  • Finnish: ahdistaja — someone who torments
  • French: bourreau — someone who torments
  • German: Peiniger — someone who torments
  • German: Peinigerin — someone who torments
  • Greek: βασανιστής (vasanistís) — someone who torments
  • Macedonian: ма́чител (máčitel) — someone who torments
  • Macedonian: вади́душа (vadíduša) — someone who torments
  • Old English: pīnere — someone who torments
  • Polish: dręczyciel — someone who torments
  • Polish: dręczycielka — someone who torments
  • Portuguese: atormentador — someone who torments
  • Russian: мучи́тель (mučítelʹ) — someone who torments
  • Russian: мучи́тельница (mučítelʹnica) — someone who torments
  • Spanish: atormentador — someone who torments
  • Swedish: plågoande — someone who torments
  • Turkish: eziyetçi — someone who torments