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Tormenting vs Torture - What's the difference?

tormenting | torture |

As verbs the difference between tormenting and torture

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

As nouns the difference between tormenting and torture

is that tormenting is the act by which somebody is tormented while torture is intentional causing of somebody's experiencing agony.

As an adjective tormenting

is involving or causing torment.

tormenting

English

Verb

(head)
  • Adjective

    (more)
  • Involving or causing torment.
  • Synonyms

    * tormentous

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The act by which somebody is tormented.
  • * 1832 , Mary Brunton, Self Control (page 335)
  • If Laura really entertained the hope she mentioned, she was miserably disappointed; for Lady Pelham remitted not a jot of her tormentings .

    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

    * *