TORTURE: Synonyms and Related Words. What is Another Word for TORTURE?

Need another word that means the same as “torture”? Find 28 synonyms and 30 related words for “torture” in this overview.

The synonyms of “Torture” are: torturing, anguish, torment, distortion, overrefinement, straining, twisting, agony, infliction of pain, abuse, suffering, pain, ordeal, horror, trial, excruciate, rack, inflict pain on, inflict suffering on, afflict, harrow, plague, distress, agonize, cause agony to, cause suffering to, inflict anguish on

Torture as a Noun

Definitions of "Torture" as a noun

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “torture” as a noun can have the following definitions:

• A cause of great suffering or anxiety.
• The action or practice of inflicting severe pain or suffering on someone as a punishment or in order to force them to do or say something.
• Great physical or mental suffering or anxiety.
• The act of distorting something so it seems to mean something it was not intended to mean.
• Intense feelings of suffering; acute mental or physical pain.
• Extreme mental distress.
• The deliberate, systematic, or wanton infliction of physical or mental suffering by one or more persons in an attempt to force another person to yield information or to make a confession or for any other reason.
• Unbearable physical pain.

Synonyms of "Torture" as a noun (15 Words)

abuse	The improper use of something. A black eye and other signs of physical abuse.
agony	Intense feelings of suffering; acute mental or physical pain. He crashed to the ground in agony.
anguish	Severe mental or physical pain or suffering. She shut her eyes in anguish.
distortion	A shape resulting from distortion. We re fed up with the media s continuing distortion of our issues.
horror	A thing causing a feeling of horror. The horrors of civil war.
infliction of pain	An act causing pain or damage.
ordeal	A primitive method of determining a person’s guilt or innocence by subjecting the accused person to dangerous or painful tests believed to be under divine control; escape was usually taken as a sign of innocence. Ordeals conducted in the twelfth century.
overrefinement	The act of distorting something so it seems to mean something it was not intended to mean.
pain	Mental suffering or distress. The pain of loneliness.
straining	Difficulty that causes worry or emotional tension- R.J.Samuelson.
suffering	Psychological suffering. His disregard for the sufferings of his fellow countrymen.
torment	A feeling of intense annoyance caused by being tormented. The journey must have been a torment for them.
torturing	Intense feelings of suffering; acute mental or physical pain. It required unnatural torturing to extract a confession.
trial	A test of individual ability on a motorcycle over rough ground or on a road. The editor was summoned to stand trial for libel.
twisting	A hairdo formed by braiding or twisting the hair. It broke off after much twisting.

Usage Examples of "Torture" as a noun

• Confessions extracted under torture.
• The torture of political prisoners.
• The torture I've gone through because of loving you so.
• A torture chamber.
• Dances were absolute torture because I was so small.

Torture as a Verb

Definitions of "Torture" as a verb

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “torture” as a verb can have the following definitions:

• Inflict severe pain or suffering on.
• Torment emotionally or mentally.
• Subject to torture.
• Cause great mental suffering or anxiety to.

Synonyms of "Torture" as a verb (13 Words)

afflict	(of a celestial body) be in a stressful aspect with (another celestial body or a point on the ecliptic. His younger child was afflicted with a skin disease.
agonize	Cause to agonize. A question which will agonize the technocrats.
cause agony to	Cause to do; cause to act in a specified manner.
cause suffering to	Cause to do; cause to act in a specified manner.
distress	Bring into difficulties or distress especially financial hardship. The manner in which leather jackets are industrially distressed.
excruciate	Torment (someone) physically or mentally. I stand back excruciated by the possibility.
harrow	Draw a harrow over land. They ploughed and harrowed the heavy clay.
inflict anguish on	Impose something unpleasant.
inflict pain on	Impose something unpleasant.
inflict suffering on	Impose something unpleasant.
plague	Cause continual trouble or distress to. He has been plagued by ill health.
rack	Go at a rack. He was racked with guilt.
torment	Torment emotionally or mentally. Every day I have kids tormenting me because they know I live alone.

Usage Examples of "Torture" as a verb

• His tortured mind.
• Most of the victims had been brutally tortured.
• He was tortured by grief.

Associations of "Torture" (30 Words)

anguish	Cause emotional anguish or make miserable. Philip gave a cry of anguish.
atonement	The action of making amends for a wrong or injury. He submitted his resignation as an act of atonement.
confess	Confess to a punishable or reprehensible deed usually under pressure. 150 people confessed faith in Christ.
confession	The religious body or Church sharing a confession of faith. Proof of this crime must be established by confession.
contrition	The state of feeling remorseful and penitent. To show contrition for his crime he offered to do community service.
cruelly	(with reference to a person) in a way that wilfully causes pain or suffering to others. He marries Edgar s sister Isabella and cruelly ill treats her.
distortion	A shape resulting from distortion. The virus causes distortion of the leaves.
extrajudicial	(of a sentence) not legally authorized. An extrajudicial offer does not carry the same penalty in expenses.
forgive	Stop blaming or grant forgiveness. I ll never forgive David for the way he treated her.
guilty	Culpable of or responsible for a specified wrongdoing. Guilty of murder.
misdeed	Improper or wicked or immoral behavior. His past misdeeds were forgiven.
mistreat	Treat (a person or animal) badly, cruelly, or unfairly. He denied mistreating his workers.
penance	Impose a penance on. The Bishop penanced him severely for his conduct.
penitence	The action of feeling or showing sorrow and regret for having done wrong; repentance. A public display of penitence.
penitent	(Roman Catholic Church) a person who repents for wrongdoing (a Roman Catholic may be admitted to penance under the direction of a confessor. A penitent expression.
penitential	Relating to or expressing penitence or penance. Penitential tears.
regret	Express with regret. I regret to say that you did not gain admission to Harvard.
relentlessly	In an unceasingly intense or harsh way. He worked relentlessly.
remorse	Deep regret or guilt for a wrong committed. They were filled with remorse and shame.
remorseful	Filled with remorse; sorry. The defendant was remorseful for what he had done.
repent	Feel remorse for; feel sorry for; be contrite about. Marian came to repent her hasty judgement.
repentance	The action of repenting; sincere regret or remorse. Each person who turns to God in genuine repentance and faith will be saved.
repentant	Feeling or expressing remorse for misdeeds. He is truly repentant for his incredible naivety and stupidity.
rue	Leaves sometimes used for flavoring fruit or claret cup but should be used with great caution: can cause irritation like poison ivy. To his rue the error cost him the game.
ruthlessly	In a ruthless manner. They fell prey to money lenders who ruthlessly exploited them.
sadistic	Deriving pleasure from inflicting pain, suffering, or humiliation on others. A sadistic killer.
sin	Commit a sin violate a law of God or a moral law. I sinned and brought shame down on us.
sinner	A person who transgresses against divine law by committing an immoral act or acts. God forgives repentant sinners.
torment	Torment emotionally or mentally. So great was his harassment that he wanted to destroy his tormentors.
trial	Of a horse dog or other animal compete in trials. A trial of progesterone failed to relieve the pain.