Definition of TORTURE
the infliction of intense pain (as from burning, crushing, or wounding) to punish, coerce, or afford sadistic pleasure… See the full definition
torture
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tor·ture
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Definition of
torture
(Entry 1 of 2)
1
:
the infliction of intense pain (as from burning, crushing, or wounding) to punish, coerce, or afford sadistic pleasure
2
a
:
something that causes agony or pain
b
:
anguish of body or mind
:
agony
3
:
distortion or overrefinement of a meaning or an argument
:
straining
torture
tortured
;
torturing
,
ˈtȯr-chə-
Definition of
torture
(Entry 2 of 2)
1
:
to cause intense suffering to
:
torment
2
:
to punish or coerce by inflicting excruciating pain
3
:
to twist or wrench out of shape
:
distort
,
warp
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Other Words from
torture
Verb
torturer
noun
Synonyms & Antonyms for
torture
Synonyms: Noun
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
Synonyms: Verb
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
Antonyms: Noun
,
Choose the Right Synonym for
torture
Verb
afflict
,
try
,
torment
,
torture
,
rack
mean to inflict on a person something that is hard to bear.
afflict
is a general term and applies to the causing of pain or suffering or of acute annoyance, embarrassment, or any distress.
ills that
afflict
the elderly
try
suggests imposing something that strains the powers of endurance or of self-control.
children often
try
their parents’ patience
torment
suggests persecution or the repeated inflicting of suffering or annoyance.
a horse
tormented
by flies
torture
adds the implication of causing unbearable pain or suffering.
tortured
by a sense of guilt
rack
stresses straining or wrenching.
a body
racked
by pain
Examples of
torture
in a Sentence
Noun
Waiting is just
torture
for me.
Listening to him can be
torture
.
Verb
The report revealed that prisoners had been repeatedly
tortured
.
Don’t
torture
yourself over the mistake.
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Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
Survivors of the camps report experiencing or witnessing widespread abuse, and incidents of
torture
, rape and forced sterilisation.
—
James Griffiths,
CNN
, “From cover-up to propaganda blitz: China’s attempts to control the narrative on Xinjiang,” 16 Apr. 2021
The statement added that the S-21 facility held thousands of Cambodians, including the elderly and children, who were subjected to
torture
, hunger, interrogation and, eventually, violent deaths.
—
Washington Post
, “Vice published altered photos showing Cambodian genocide victims smiling. It unleashed an uproar.,” 11 Apr. 2021
By 1992, the United States had sent more than $4 billion to the government of El Salvador, despite reports of
torture
, rape, killings and massacres.
—
New York Times
, “Their Lawsuit Prevented 400,000 Deportations. Now It’s Biden’s Call.,” 7 Apr. 2021
Johnson, 35, was arrested March 24 after being indicted last October on charges of willful
torture
, willful abuse and cruelly beating or otherwise willfully maltreating a child under the age of 18.
—
William Thornton | Wthornton@al.com,
al
, “Alabama Shakes drummer Steve Johnson released on bond in child torture case,” 7 Apr. 2021
The condition has been backed up not just by psychiatric case studies but by dozens of studies involving victims of child abuse, natural disaster,
torture
, rape, kidnapping, wartime violence and other trauma.
—
Joshua Kendall,
Scientific American
, “Forgotten Memories of Traumatic Events Get Some Backing from Brain-Imaging Studies,” 6 Apr. 2021
Johnson faces charges of willful
torture
, willful abuse and cruelly beating or otherwise willfully maltreating a child under the age of 18, the Associated Press reports.
—
Daniel Kreps,
Rolling Stone
, “Alabama Shakes Drummer Steve Johnson Arrested on Child Abuse Charges,” 28 Mar. 2021
Steven William Johnson, 35, has been indicted on charges of willful
torture
, willful abuse and cruelly beating or otherwise willfully maltreating a child under age 18, according to reports.
—
Fox News
, “Alabama Shakes ex-drummer Steven Johnson arrested on child abuse charges,” 28 Mar. 2021
This is Granny Goodness, another servant of Darkseid who trains elite soldiers for her lord using a combination of sadism,
torture
, and brainwashing.
—
James Grebey,
Vulture
, “Every Single Easter Egg in Zack Snyder’s Justice League,” 18 Mar. 2021
Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
Director Emerald Fennell’s powerful revenge drama about a woman’s (Carey Mulligan) quest to
torture
toxic men mostly features white women both onscreen and off.
—
USA Today
, “Report card: Would this year’s Oscar best picture nominees meet 2024 inclusion standards?,” 19 Apr. 2021
Because medical inequity is just an extra-credit topic of Perillos’; her real task is, of course, to
torture
information about the Sikorsky Archive out of Dembe for Townsend, and by proxy, Liz.
—
Jodi Walker,
EW.com
, “The Blacklist recap: The brazen bull,” 13 Mar. 2021
Before any trial, Thomas was hunted and killed by a posse formed by Sheriff Willis McCall, who also ordered his deputies to
torture
the other men in the basement under the Lake County Jail.
—
Monivette Cordeiro,
orlandosentinel.com
, “Attorney who defended Groveland Four honored with bust at Wells’ Built Museum,” 26 Mar. 2021
Gacy would lure his victims into his home, sometimes offering to show them a magic trick, before locking them in handcuffs to
torture
and kill them.
—
oregonlive
, “John Wayne Gacy: Devil in Disguise documentary out now | Free live stream info, how to watch online with Peacock,” 25 Mar. 2021
Over the course of the day, the criminals basically
torture
this family, and through fourth-wall breaks, Haneke interrogates why people would even want to watch something like this, illuminating what art can reveal about the dark side of humanity.
—
Brian Tallerico,
Vulture
, “The 100 Best Movies on HBO Max,” 1 Feb. 2021
No one’s purely on the side of good here, and the characters
torture
each other as Kemp’s obsession grows more intense and his chances to start over begin to dim.
—
Keith Phipps,
Vulture
, “The 50 Greatest Western Movies of All Time,” 18 Jan. 2021
Never has an incumbent gone to such unconscionable lengths to
torture
the truth, bend laws and use intimidation to foil the will of the people.
—
Steve Chapman,
chicagotribune.com
, “Column: Republicans bowing to Trump are undermining American democracy,” 11 Dec. 2020
Santana Khanikar, assistant professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University, writes in her book on state violence that
torture
in police stations is so routine, it is often used to impress spectators.
—
Mohit Rao,
CNN
, “Indian police use violence as a shortcut to justice. It’s the poorest who bear the scars,” 2 Dec. 2020
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word ‘torture.’ Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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First Known Use of
torture
Noun
1540, in the meaning defined at
sense 2b
Verb
1588, in the meaning defined at
sense 1
History and Etymology for
torture
Noun
Middle French, from Old French, from Late Latin
tortura
, from Latin
tortus
, past participle of
torquēre
to twist; probably akin to Old High German
drāhsil
turner, Greek
atraktos
spindle
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torture
From the Editors at Merriam-Webster
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torture
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torture
Last Updated
23 Apr 2021
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Cite this Entry
“Torture.”
Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary
, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/torture. Accessed 1 May. 2021.
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torture
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Translation of
torture
for Spanish Speakers
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Translation of
torture
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torture
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torture
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