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Definition of "torture" []

  • Infliction of severe physical pain as a means of punishment or coercion. (noun)
  • An instrument or a method for inflicting such pain. (noun)
  • Excruciating physical or mental pain; agony: the torture of waiting in suspense. (noun)
  • Something causing severe pain or anguish. (noun)
  • To subject (a person or an animal) to torture. (verb-transitive)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "torture" in a sentence
  • "VIEW FAVORITES yahooBuzzArticleHeadline = 'Bush declares: \'We do not torture\' '; yahooBuzzArticleSummary =' Bush supported an effort spearheaded by Vice President Dick Cheney to block or modify a proposed Senate-passed ban on torture ..."
  • "After many nights of torture, this jacket, at my urgent and repeated request, was finally adjusted in such manner that, had it been so adjusted at first, I need not have suffered any _torture_ at all."
  • "* Generals say crucial reports did not mention torture* "Ludicrous" to say most detainees abused - general By David LjunggrenOTTAWA, Nov 25 (Reuters) - Two former Canadian military commanders on Wednesday denied accusations they had ignored warnings that Afghan authorities might torture and abuse detainees handed over to them."