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Torture vs Cruelty - What's the difference?

torture | cruelty |

As a verb torture

is .

As a noun cruelty is

(uncountable) an indifference to suffering or positive pleasure in inflicting suffering.

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

    * *

    cruelty

    English

    Alternative forms

    * cruellty (obsolete) * cruelltie (obsolete)

    Noun

  • (uncountable) an indifference to suffering or positive pleasure in inflicting suffering.
  • (countable) a cruel act
  • Anagrams

    * cutlery