torture
/ˈtɔːrtʃər/
noun
- The act of causing severe physical pain or mental suffering, especially as a punishment or to force someone to give information.
- The prisoner was subjected to hours of torture.
- Many countries have laws that forbid the use of torture.
- The movie showed the torture of innocent people during the war.
- Extreme physical or mental pain or suffering.
- Waiting for the test results was pure torture.
- The long hike in the heat was torture for my tired legs.
- Listening to that awful music was torture for everyone in the car.
verb
- To cause someone severe physical pain or mental suffering, often to punish or get information.
- They were accused of torturing prisoners of war.
- In the story, the villain tortures the hero to learn the secret.
- The dictator's soldiers would torture anyone who spoke against him.
- To cause someone great mental or emotional pain.
- He was tortured by doubts about his decision.
- The thought of failing the exam tortured him all night.
- The memory of the accident still tortures her.