torturous
Cruelly drawn out
Torturous describes something that inflicts or involves torture—extreme pain or suffering: a torturous interrogation, torturous back pain.
By extension, anything agonizingly slow, difficult, or unpleasant qualifies: a torturous commute, torturous negotiations.
Often confused with tortuous, which means winding or complex rather than painful.
Causing extreme suffering
- painfulCausing hurt or ache
- harrowingExtremely distressing or disturbing
- unbearableImpossible to endure
- tormentingCausing severe distress
distressing · anguishing · brutal · cruel · punishing · savage · merciless · hellish
Extremely tiring and demanding
- exhaustingDepleting one's stamina
- strenuousRequiring intense exertion
- laboriousRequiring considerable effort
- demandingRequiring great effort
taxing · onerous · backbreaking · toilsome · wearisome · burdensome · tedious · relentless
Extremely complex and winding
- serpentineCurving in repeated bends
- windingCurving repeatedly, sinuous
- twistedWound around itself
- meanderingFollowing a winding course
circuitous · indirect · roundabout · byzantine · tangled · complicated · knotty · intricate
excruciating
Causing extreme suffering
- painfulCausing hurt or ache
- harrowingExtremely distressing or disturbing
- unbearableImpossible to endure
tormenting · distressing · anguishing · brutal · cruel · punishing · savage · merciless · hellish · nightmarish
grueling
Extremely tiring and demanding
- exhaustingDepleting one's stamina
- strenuousRequiring intense exertion
- laboriousRequiring considerable effort
demanding · taxing · onerous · backbreaking · toilsome · wearisome · burdensome · tedious · relentless · rigorous
labyrinthine
Extremely complex and winding
- serpentineCurving in repeated bends
- windingCurving repeatedly, sinuous
- twistedWound around itself
meandering · circuitous · indirect · roundabout · byzantine · tangled · complicated · knotty · intricate · maze-like
torturouspainless
Causing no discomfort
pleasurable · pleasant · delightful · enjoyable · pleasing
torturousbearable
Able to be endured
tolerable · endurable · manageable · sufferable · supportable
torture, retort, distort, contort, extort, tortuous, torturing, torturer