atormentar

to torment

verb ah-tohr-men-TAHR Rare

Also means

to torture

Usage Note

Atormentar means to cause great mental or physical suffering. Reflexively, atormentarse means to torment oneself, to be consumed by worry or guilt — se atormenta pensando en lo que pudo hacer. It is more intense than molestar (to bother) and implies sustained, acute distress. The noun tormento (torment) shares the same root and is used in both literal and figurative senses.

Examples

"Los remordimientos lo atormentaban día y noche."

Natural Translation

Remorse tormented him day and night.

Free starter pack

Building your Spanish vocabulary?

Get the 100 most common Spanish words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.

Related Words

Explore Spanish by topic

SpanishNow

How to Respond to ¿Cómo Estás? (Not Just Bien)

Respond to ¿cómo estás? like a native: add gracias, bounce back ¿y tú?, and pick a reply by mood — bien, no me quejo, más o menos, or ahí voy.

June 3, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

Por vs Para in Spanish: One Mental Model, No Acronyms

Por looks backward at cause and path; para looks forward at goal and destination. Master por vs para in Spanish with one mental model — no acronyms needed.

June 3, 2026 6 min read

SpanishNow

Spanish Subjunctive Explained Simply for Beginners

The Spanish subjunctive is a mood, not a tense — use it after a WEIRDO trigger plus que. Learn the one rule, the yo-form recipe, and the lines you already say.

June 9, 2026 5 min read

SpanishNow

How to Tell Time in Spanish: A Beginner's Guide

Tell time in Spanish with one formula: es la una vs son las, y and menos for minutes, plus de la mañana, en punto, and 24-hour station times.

June 9, 2026 5 min read