Word Explorer

Torturing

To intentionally inflict severe pain or suffering on (someone).

📖 Definitions of "Torturing"

verb

1
To intentionally inflict severe pain or suffering on (someone).
"In the aftermath of 9/11, we did some things that were wrong. We did a whole lot of things that were right, but, we tortured some folks. We did some things that were contrary to our values."

noun

7 synonyms found via WordNet and Google Books.

Word	Definition
harrowingnoun	(formal) Causing pain or distress; harrying.
agonizingnoun	Causing physical or mental agony.
excruciating	Causing great pain or anguish, agonizing
painful	Causing pain or distress, either physical or mental.
torturous	Painful, excruciating, torturing.
torturenoun	The infliction of severe pain or anguish, especially as an interrogation technique or punishment; (usually in the plural) a technique, method, or device which is designed to inflict such anguish.
torturesome	Characterised or marked by torture; torturous.

Found via reverse dictionary — words that share a conceptual meaning.

Word	Definition
torturous	Painful, excruciating, torturing.
torturesome	Characterised or marked by torture; torturous.
excruciating	Causing great pain or anguish, agonizing
painful	Causing pain or distress, either physical or mental.
agonizingnoun	Causing physical or mental agony.
harrowingnoun	(formal) Causing pain or distress; harrying.
abuseverb	(transitive) To put to a wrong use; to misapply; to use improperly; to use for a wrong purpose or end; to pervert
sophistnoun	(figurative) A teacher who uses plausible but fallacious reasoning.
abusingverb	(transitive) To put to a wrong use; to misapply; to use improperly; to use for a wrong purpose or end; to pervert
tormenting	Involving or causing torment.
tormentnoun	Any extreme pain, anguish or misery, either physical or mental.
cruciationnoun	(obsolete) torture or torment
pain-makingnoun	Pain-causing; deliberately painful.
torchingnoun	An act of arson.
genitorturenoun	(BDSM) Torture of the genitals.
tormentornoun	One who torments; a person, animal, or object that causes suffering.
crucifixionnoun	(Christianity, often capitalized) The death of Jesus Christ on the Cross.
brutalizationnoun	(uncountable) The act or process of making brutal
enhanced interrogation techniquenoun	(US, euphemistic, primarily plural) Torture.
brutalitynoun	A cruel or savage act.