torture
1 of 2verb/ˈtɔrtʃər/
Forms:tortures,torturing,tortured,tortured
1
to inflict extreme mental pain, distress, or anxiety on someone
transitive- The constant interrogation seemed to torture him mentally, breaking his spirit.
- He was tortured by the thought of losing his family.
- The memories of the event still tortured her, even after many years.
- The uncertainty about her future tortured her every night.
- The guilt over his actions tortured him for months after the incident.
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2
to violently hurt a person as a punishment or as a way of obtaining information from them
C1transitive- The captors attempted to torture the prisoner into revealing classified information.
- In some authoritarian regimes, authorities are known to torture political dissidents.
- The military interrogators were accused of torturing detainees during the investigation.
- Human rights activists work tirelessly to raise awareness about regimes that continue to torture their citizens.
- Efforts are ongoing to prevent and address instances where law enforcement may torture suspects in custody.
Synonyms: