tortured; torturing
ˈtȯrch-riŋ,
ˈtȯr-chə-
1
: to cause intense suffering to : torment
2
: to punish or coerce by inflicting excruciating pain
Synonyms
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.
Recent Examples on the Web
Katie Walsh, Twin Cities, 7 Nov. 2024
The trials swept to North America as well – where, most famously, 19 were executed in Salem, Massachusetts, with more dying under torture and investigation.
—Julia Buckley, CNN, 31 Oct. 2024
Laura Bradley, Vulture, 15 Nov. 2024
If the director can’t or won’t, there’s no need to torture yourself for work.
—R. Eric Thomas, The Mercury News, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for torture 
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Noun
For some women, anything that comes after such a torture would pale in comparison.
—Katie Walsh, Twin Cities, 7 Nov. 2024
The trials swept to North America as well – where, most famously, 19 were executed in Salem, Massachusetts, with more dying under torture and investigation.
—Julia Buckley, CNN, 31 Oct. 2024
Verb
Like any good network soap, Grey’s loves to torture us with exaggerated teaser clips.
—Laura Bradley, Vulture, 15 Nov. 2024
If the director can’t or won’t, there’s no need to torture yourself for work.
—R. Eric Thomas, The Mercury News, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for torture
Dictionary Entries Near torture
Cite this Entry
“Torture.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/torture. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
torture
1 of 2 noun
tor·ture
ˈtȯr-chər
1
: distress of body or mind
2
: the causing of great pain especially to punish or to obtain a confession
torture
2 of 2 verb
tortured; torturing
ˈtȯrch-(ə-)riŋ
1
: to cause great suffering to
2
: to punish or force someone to do or say something by causing great pain
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