What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Punish vs Torture - What's the difference?

punish | torture |

As verbs the difference between punish and torture

is that punish is to cause to suffer for crime or misconduct, to administer disciplinary action while torture is .

punish

English

Verb

(es)
  • To cause to suffer for crime or misconduct, to administer disciplinary action.
  • To cause great harm to. (a punishing blow )
  • To dumb down severely or to the point of uselessness or near-uselessness.
  • Synonyms

    * (to cause to suffer for crime or misconduct ) castigate

    Derived terms

    * punishable * punisher (noun ) * punishment (noun ) * (l) and (l) (through portmanteau with (etyl) )

    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

    * *