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Suffering vs Torture - What's the difference?

suffering | torture | Related terms |

As nouns the difference between suffering and torture

is that suffering is the condition of someone who suffers; a state of pain or distress while torture is intentional causing of somebody's experiencing agony.

As verbs the difference between suffering and torture

is that suffering is present participle of lang=en while torture is to intentionally inflict severe pain or suffering on (someone).

As an adjective suffering

is experiencing pain.{{jump|experiencing pain}} singular.

suffering

English

Adjective

(head)
  • Experiencing pain.(jump)
  • Synonyms

    * (jump) in pain

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The condition of someone who suffers; a state of pain or distress.
  • * {{quote-news
  • , year=2011 , date=December 14 , author=Steven Morris , title=Devon woman jailed for 168 days for killing kitten in microwave , work=Guardian citation , page= , passage=Robins, of Torquay, had denied a single charge of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. She claimed the microwave was accidentally turned on by one of the cats after the kitten got inside. But Knutton said the kitten was too small to even get onto the work surface.}}

    Verb

    (head)
  • 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

    * *