torment
verb (used with object)
to afflict with great bodily or mental suffering; pain.
had been tormenting
-
past perfect progressiveof torment.past perfect progressive
Used to describe an action that was ongoing continuously in the past up until another past event interrupted it.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Yakubu Karagama, an ear, nose and throat consultant at London's Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital, said the condition had been "tormenting people for a long time".
From BBC ● Dec. 20, 2023
These strange pains had been tormenting the man for nearly three weeks.
From New York Times ● Dec. 15, 2021
I saw at once it was the same German shepherd that had been tormenting Marlene through the gate.
From "An Elephant in the Garden" by Michael Morpurgo
It said that for thousands of years birds had been tormenting the peasants.
From "The Joy Luck Club" by Amy Tan
This was precisely the question that had been tormenting Kissinger.
From "Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War" by Steve Sheinkin
