Meaning & use

torturing

verb·Advanced

Deliberately inflicting severe pain or suffering on someone, often to punish or extract information.

See it in a sentence

The regime was accused of torturing political prisoners for confessions.

The uncertainty of waiting for test results was torturing her.

A note on using this word

Present participle of "torture"; often used figuratively to describe intense mental or emotional distress, not only physical pain.

Words with a similar meaning

tormentingagonizing

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

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