Torturous or tortuous?

Which one should you use and when?

Below is a transcript of the video.

Torturous or tortuous? Which one should you use and when?

Torturous or tortuous are two words that are really, really easy to confuse - and not just because they sound similar, but also because they both have connotations that are negative, and sometimes even overlapping.

But not always, and a careful writer will observe the differences. So here’s how you can remember the difference so you always pick the right word. 

Let’s start with word whose meaning you’re most likely to be referring to when you use either of these words - torturous with an r in the middle.

Torturous means exactly what it sounds like it means - relating to torture.

So you might say:

‘The fruit-pickers worked all day in the torturous heat.’

In other words, the heat was painfully uncomfortable for the workers.

Or

‘I had a torturous wait for my exam results.’

Now, interestingly, this use of torturous, to mean something painfully protracted, sort of overlaps with our other word, tortuous.

Tortuous means full of twists and turns. A bit like the meaning of the related word contorted.

For example:

‘We took a rather tortuous route through the city, but we got here eventually.’  

In other words, it wasn’t a straightforward journey. 

You can also use tortuous more metaphorically, for example:

‘The professor put forward a tortuous argument.’

In other words, the professor’s argument was convoluted and perhaps too complicated.

So it’s easy to see how something tortuous - that is, overly complex and circuitous - might also be painful or torturous.

So while many careful writers will observe the distinction between tortuous and torturous, if you find yourself using them interchangeably, don’t sweat it too much.

I’m Dr. Clare Lynch of Doris and Bertie. If you liked this video, subscribe to the channel, hit that like button and share it with your friends.

For more easily confused words, see 10 pairs of words people confuse all the time.


For more writing advice, enrol in my online course, Writing With Confidence, available at the Doris and Bertie Writing School.

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