Meaning & use
torture
The deliberate infliction of severe physical or mental pain on someone, often to punish, intimidate, or extract information.
See it in a sentence
International law strictly prohibits the use of torture against prisoners.
The long, silent flight delay felt like torture to the exhausted travelers.
A note on using this word
Torture is also used verbally ("to torture someone") and hyperbolically in casual speech to describe extreme discomfort, as in the second example.
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
comfortrelief
Another way to use it
2. verb
To deliberately inflict severe pain or suffering on someone.
The regime was accused of torturing political prisoners in secret.
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