Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense tortures, present participle torturing, past tense, past participle tortured
1. verb
If someone is tortured, another person deliberately causes them great pain over a period of time, in order to punish them or to make them reveal information.
French police are convinced that she was tortured and killed. [beVERB-ed]
Three members of the group had been tortured to death. [beVERB-ed]
They never again tortured a prisoner in his presence. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: torment, abuse, persecute, afflict More Synonyms of torture
Torture is also a noun.
...alleged cases of torture and murder by the security forces.
Many died under torture, others committed suicide.
I had thought this was a medieval torture that had mercifully disappeared.
2. verb
To torture someone means to cause them to suffer mental pain or anxiety.
He would not torture her further by trying to argue with her. [VERB noun]
She tortured herself with fantasies of Bob and his new girlfriend. [VERB pronoun-reflexive + with]
Synonyms: distress, torment, worry, trouble More Synonyms of torture
3. uncountable noun [oft aNOUN]
If you say that something is torture or a torture, you mean that it causes you great mental or physical suffering.
[informal]
Waiting for the result was torture.
The friction of the sheets against his skin was torture.
Learning–something she had always loved–became a torture.
Synonyms: agony, suffering, misery, anguish More Synonyms of torture
More Synonyms of torture
torture in British English
(ˈtɔːtʃə)
verb(transitive)
1.
to cause extreme physical pain to, esp in order to extract information, break resistance, etc
to torture prisoners
2.
to give mental anguish to
3.
to twist into a grotesque form
noun
4.
physical or mental anguish
5.
the practice of torturing a person
6.
a cause of mental agony or worry
▶ USAGE The adjective torturous is sometimes confused with tortuous. One speaks of a torturous experience, i.e. one that involves pain or suffering, but of a tortuous road, i.e. one that winds or twists
Derived forms
tortured (ˈtortured)
adjective
torturedly (ˈtorturedly)
adverb
torturer (ˈtorturer)
noun
torturesome (ˈtorturesome) or torturous (ˈtorturous)
adjective
torturing (ˈtorturing)
adjective
torturingly (ˈtorturingly)
adverb
torturously (ˈtorturously)
adverb
Word origin
C16: from Late Latin tortūra a twisting, from torquēre to twist
torture in American English
(ˈtɔrtʃər)
noun
1.
the inflicting of severe pain to force information or confession, get revenge, etc.
2.
any method by which such pain is inflicted
3.
any severe physical or mental pain; agony; anguish
4.
a cause of such pain or agony
5. Rare
a violent twisting, distortion, perversion, etc.
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈtortured or ˈtorturing
6.
to subject to torture
7.
to cause extreme physical or mental pain to; agonize
8.
to twist or distort (meaning, language, etc.)
Derived forms
torturer (ˈtorturer)
noun
torturous (ˈtorturous)
adjective
torturously (ˈtorturously)
adverb
Word origin
Fr < LL tortura, a twisting, torture < pp. of L torquere, to twist: see tort
Synonyms of 'torture'
torment, abuse, persecute, afflict
distress, torment, worry, trouble
ill-treatment, abuse, torment, persecution
agony, suffering, misery, anguish
More Synonyms of torture
In other languages
torture
British English: torture /ˈtɔːtʃə/ NOUN
If someone is made to experience torture, another person deliberately causes them great pain, in order to punish them or make them reveal information.
...alleged cases of torture and murder by the security forces.
American English: torture
Arabic: تَعْذِيب
Brazilian Portuguese: tortura
Chinese: 折磨
Croatian: mučenje
Czech: mučení
Danish: tortur
Dutch: marteling
European Spanish: tortura
Finnish: kidutus
French: torture
German: Folter
Greek: βασανιστήριο
Italian: tortura
Japanese: 拷問
Korean: 고문 신체적 고통
Norwegian: tortur
Polish: tortury
European Portuguese: tortura
Romanian: tortură
Russian: пытка
Latin American Spanish: tortura
Swedish: tortyr
Thai: การทรมาน
Turkish: işkence
Ukrainian: тортури
Vietnamese: sự tra tấn
British English: torture /ˈtɔːtʃə/ VERB
If someone is tortured, another person deliberately causes them great pain over a period of time, in order to punish them or to make them reveal information.
The police are convinced that she was tortured and killed.
American English: torture
Arabic: يُعَذِّبُ
Brazilian Portuguese: torturar
Chinese: 刑讯逼供
Croatian: mučiti
Czech: mučit
Danish: torturere
Dutch: martelen
European Spanish: torturar
Finnish: kiduttaa
French: torturer
German: foltern
Greek: βασανίζω
Italian: torturare
Japanese: 拷問にかける
Korean: 고문하다
Norwegian: torturere
Polish: torturować
European Portuguese: torturar
Romanian: a tortura
Russian: пытать
Latin American Spanish: torturar
Swedish: tortera
Thai: ทรมาน
Turkish: işkence etmek
Ukrainian: катувати
Vietnamese: tra tấn
All related terms of 'torture'
self-torture
the act of inflicting pain on oneself
torture porn
a genre of horror films in which sadistic violence or torture is a central aspect of the plot
water torture
any of various forms of torture using water, esp one in which water drips or is slowly poured onto the victim's forehead
torture chamber
a room where somebody is caused extreme physical pain , esp in order to extract information, break resistance , etc
torture flight
a flight used to carry out extraordinary rendition
Chinese water torture
a form of torture in which water is made to drip for a long period of time onto a victim's forehead to drive him or her insane
Chinese translation of 'torture'
torture
(ˈtɔːtʃəʳ)
n(u)
酷刑 (kùxíng)
(= torment) 折磨 (zhémó)
vt
对(對) ... 施以酷刑 (duì ... shī yǐ kùxíng)
(= torment) 使痛苦 (shǐ tòngkǔ)
1 (verb)
Definition
to cause (someone) extreme physical pain, esp. to extract information, etc.
Prisoners were often tortured in ancient Rome.
Synonyms
torment
abuse
People responsible for abusing prisoners must be held accountable.
persecute
They have been persecuted for their beliefs.
afflict
martyr
scourge
Economic anarchy scourged the post-war world.
molest
He was accused of sexually molesting a colleague.
crucify
He had been crucified by guilt ever since his child's death.
mistreat
I have been mistreated by people in the past.
ill-treat
The rescued hostages said they had not been ill-treated.
maltreat
He was not maltreated during his detention.
put on the rack
Opposites
comfort
,
soothe
, console,
alleviate
,
solace
,
mollify
, salve
2 (verb)
Definition
to cause (someone) mental anguish
He would not torture her further by arguing.
Synonyms
distress
I did not want to frighten or distress her.
torment
At times, memories returned to torment her.
worry
‘Why didn't you tell us?’ – ‘Didn't want to worry you.’
trouble
Is anything troubling you?
pain
It pains me to think of an animal being in distress.
rack
a teenager racked with guilt
afflict
There are four main problems that afflict these people.
harrow
agonize
give someone grief (British, South Africa)
inflict anguish on
1 (noun)
Definition
the practice of torturing a person
alleged cases of torture
Synonyms
ill-treatment
Some had died as a result of ill-treatment.
abuse
an investigation into alleged animal abuse
torment
persecution
the persecution of minorities
martyrdom
the martyrdom of Bishop Cannio
maltreatment
The hospital shut down as a result of maltreatment of its patients.
harsh treatment
2 (noun)
Definition
physical or mental anguish
Waiting for the result was torture.
Synonyms
agony
We accepted there would be agony for the remaining children.
suffering
It has caused terrible suffering to animals.
misery
All that money brought nothing but misery.
anguish
A cry of anguish burst from her lips.
hell (informal)
the hell of grief and lost love
distress
Her mouth grew stiff with pain and distress.
torment
We spent our days in torment, waiting for news.
heartbreak
suffering and heartbreak for those close to the victims
Opposites
delight
,
pleasure
,
joy
,
well-being
,
happiness
,
enjoyment
,
amusement
,
bliss
subject word lists
See Instruments of tortureSee Types of torture
Additional synonyms
in the sense of abuse
Definition
to ill-treat violently
People responsible for abusing prisoners must be held accountable.
Synonyms
ill-treat,
wrong,
damage,
hurt,
injure,
harm,
mar,
spoil,
oppress,
maul,
molest,
dump on (slang, US),
impose upon,
manhandle,
rough up,
brutalize,
shit on (taboo, slang),
maltreat,
misapply,
handle roughly,
knock about or around
in the sense of abuse
Definition
prolonged ill-treatment of or violence towards someone
an investigation into alleged animal abuse
Synonyms
maltreatment,
wrong,
damage,
injury,
hurt,
harm,
spoiling,
bullying,
oppression,
imposition,
mistreatment,
manhandling,
ill-treatment,
rough handling
in the sense of afflict
Definition
to cause someone suffering or unhappiness
There are four main problems that afflict these people.
Synonyms
torment,
trouble,
pain,
hurt,
wound,
burden,
distress,
rack,
try,
plague,
grieve,
harass,
ail (literary),
oppress,
beset,
smite
Synonyms of 'torture'
torture
Explore 'torture' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of anguish
Definition
great mental pain
A cry of anguish burst from her lips.
Synonyms
suffering,
pain,
torture,
distress,
grief,
misery,
agony,
torment,
sorrow,
woe,
heartache,
heartbreak,
pang,
throe
in the sense of crucify
Definition
to treat cruelly
He had been crucified by guilt ever since his child's death.
Synonyms
torture,
rack,
torment,
harrow
in the sense of harrow
Synonyms
distress,
tear,
wound,
rend (literary),
torture,
rack,
torment,
harass,
wring,
vex,
agonize,
perturb,
lacerate
in the sense of heartbreak
Definition
intense and overwhelming grief, esp. after the end of a love affair
suffering and heartbreak for those close to the victims
Synonyms
grief,
suffering,
pain,
despair,
misery,
sorrow,
anguish,
desolation
in the sense of hell
Definition
a situation that causes suffering or extreme difficulty
the hell of grief and lost love
Synonyms
torment,
suffering,
agony,
trial,
nightmare,
misery,
ordeal,
anguish,
affliction,
martyrdom,
wretchedness
in the sense of ill-treat
Definition
to treat cruelly or harshly
The rescued hostages said they had not been ill-treated.
Synonyms
abuse,
injure,
harm,
wrong,
damage,
harry,
harass,
misuse,
oppress,
dump on (slang),
mishandle,
shit on (taboo, slang),
maltreat,
ill-use,
handle roughly,
knock about or around
in the sense of maltreat
Definition
to treat badly, cruelly, or violently
He was not maltreated during his detention.
Synonyms
abuse,
damage,
hurt,
injure,
harm,
bully,
mistreat,
ill-treat,
handle roughly
in the sense of maltreatment
The hospital shut down as a result of maltreatment of its patients.
Synonyms
abuse,
bullying,
mistreatment,
injury,
harm,
ill-treatment,
rough handling,
ill-usage
in the sense of martyrdom
the martyrdom of Bishop Cannio
Synonyms
persecution,
suffering,
torture,
agony,
ordeal,
torment,
anguish
in the sense of misery
Definition
intense unhappiness or suffering
All that money brought nothing but misery.
Synonyms
unhappiness,
distress,
despair,
grief,
suffering,
depression,
torture,
agony,
gloom,
sadness,
discomfort,
torment,
hardship,
sorrow,
woe,
anguish,
melancholy,
desolation,
wretchedness
Additional synonyms
in the sense of mistreat
Definition
to treat badly
I have been mistreated by people in the past.
Synonyms
abuse,
injure,
harm,
molest,
misuse,
maul,
manhandle,
wrong,
rough up,
ill-treat,
brutalize,
maltreat,
ill-use,
handle roughly,
knock about or around
in the sense of molest
Definition
to accost or attack someone, esp. a woman or child, with the intention of assaulting her or him sexually
He was accused of sexually molesting a colleague.
Synonyms
abuse,
attack,
hurt,
injure,
harm,
interfere with,
assail,
accost,
manhandle,
ill-treat,
maltreat
in the sense of pain
Definition
to cause (a person) physical or mental suffering
It pains me to think of an animal being in distress.
Synonyms
distress,
worry,
hurt,
wound,
torture,
grieve,
torment,
afflict,
sadden,
disquiet,
vex,
agonize,
cut to the quick,
aggrieve
in the sense of persecute
Definition
to oppress or maltreat (someone), because of race or religion
They have been persecuted for their beliefs.
Synonyms
victimize,
hunt,
injure,
pursue,
torture,
hound,
torment,
martyr,
oppress,
pick on,
molest,
ill-treat,
maltreat
in the sense of persecution
the persecution of minorities
Synonyms
victimization,
abuse,
torture,
torment,
oppression,
tyranny,
discrimination against,
mistreatment,
ill-treatment,
maltreatment,
tyrannization
in the sense of rack
Definition
to cause great suffering to
a teenager racked with guilt
Synonyms
torture,
distress,
torment,
harass,
afflict,
oppress,
harrow,
crucify,
agonize,
pain,
excruciate
in the sense of scourge
Definition
to cause severe suffering to
Economic anarchy scourged the post-war world.
Synonyms
afflict,
plague,
curse,
torment,
harass,
terrorize,
excoriate
in the sense of suffering
It has caused terrible suffering to animals.
Synonyms
pain,
torture,
distress,
agony,
misery,
ordeal,
discomfort,
torment,
hardship,
anguish,
affliction,
martyrdom
in the sense of trouble
Definition
to cause trouble to
Is anything troubling you?
Synonyms
bother,
worry,
upset,
disturb,
distress,
annoy,
plague,
grieve,
torment,
harass,
hassle (informal),
afflict,
pain,
fret,
agitate,
sadden,
perplex,
disconcert,
disquiet,
pester,
vex,
perturb,
faze,
give someone grief (British, South Africa),
discompose,
put or get someone's back up,
hack you off (informal)
in the sense of worry
Definition
to annoy or bother
‘Why didn't you tell us?’ – ‘Didn't want to worry you.’