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Torment vs Torture - What's the difference?

torment | torture |

Torture is a synonym of torment.



In transitive terms the difference between torment and torture

is that torment is to cause severe suffering to (stronger than to vex but weaker than to torture. while torture is to intentionally inflict severe pain or suffering on (someone).

torment

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • (obsolete) A catapult or other kind of war-engine.
  • Torture, originally as inflicted by an instrument of torture.
  • Any extreme pain, anguish or misery, either physical or mental.
  • He was bitter from the torments of the divorce system.
  • * Bible, Matthew iv. 24
  • They brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments .

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Derived terms

    * tormentous

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To cause severe suffering to (stronger than to vex'' but weaker than ''to torture. )
  • The child tormented the flies by pulling their wings off.
  • * 2013 , Phil McNulty, " Man City 4-1 Man Utd", BBC Sport , 22 September 2013:
  • Moyes, who never won a derby at Liverpool in 11 years as Everton manager, did not find the Etihad any more forgiving as City picked United apart in midfield, where Toure looked in a different class to United's £27.5m new boy Marouane Fellaini, and in defence as Aguero tormented Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand.

    Derived terms

    * tormentor

    torture

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Intentional causing of somebody's experiencing agony.
  • Using large dogs to attack bound, hand-cuffed prisoners is clearly torture .
    In every war there are acts of torture that cause the world to shudder.
    People confess to anything under torture .
  • (chiefly, literary) The "suffering of the heart" imposed by one on another, as in personal relationships.
  • Every time she says 'goodbye' it is torture !

    Derived terms

    * torture chamber *

    Verb

    (tortur)
  • To intentionally inflict severe pain or suffering on (someone).
  • People who torture often have sadistic tendencies.

    Derived terms

    * *