1. the act of causing severe physical or mental pain as punishment or to force someone to do something
2. severe physical or mental pain

1. to cause severe physical or mental pain to someone
2. to cause someone to suffer or worry greatly
Usage: informal

Examples

• The prisoner was subjected to torture.
• Waiting for the test results was pure torture.
• The dictator’s forces tortured political prisoners.
• She tortured herself with guilt over the accident.
• The long delay tortured the anxious parents.
• His back injury caused him constant torture.
• Don’t torture yourself by reading those negative comments.