The accident was an anguished event.

[navi tasan]

1) The accident was an anguished event.

Could that sentence be used to say that the event caused anguish?

2) The picnic turned out to be a tortured affair.

Could that be used to say that the picnic was torturous? That it caused a lot of pain?

 

[tedmc]

Both the adjectives do not fit the sentences.
1. People are anguished, not an event.
2. "Torturous" is possible, though not common, but not "tortured".

 

[Skrej]

Both the adjectives do not fit the sentences.
1. People are anguished, not an event.
2. "Torturous" is possible, though not common, but not "tortured".

I disagree.

It's acceptable to use 'anguished' to refer to things other than people. See the sample sentences in this entry.
See also sample sentences for 'tortured'.

That being said, I think both of the original sentences work. I don't like the first one as much, but it's acceptable. I personally tend to collocate 'anguished' more with sounds and speech rather than actions or events, but multiple examples show it used otherwise.

The first sentence in the OP strikes me as similar to one of the real-life examples listed lower in the definition:

It is an anguished and necessary effort to avoid the ultimate, deepest and harshest level of the crisis. (from NPR).

 

[Barque]

I don't like the first one as much, but it's acceptable

I don't think the first works at all.

I don't particularly like the second either.

(from NPR).

What's NPR?

 

[SoothingDave]

National Public Radio, a state-sponsored media outlet in the US.

 

[jutfrank]

I'm not keen on 'anguished event' but I can't put up a strong objection to it.

2 sounds fine though I do want to hear 'tortuous' instead.

 

[Barque]

2 sounds fine though I do want to hear 'tortuous' instead.

In number 2, if the OP wants to say it was a difficult and "painful" affair (as it appears they do), I think 'torturous' works better than 'tortuous'. Typo? Or have I misunderstood?

 

[jutfrank]

I meant to say 'torturous'.