torment

/ˈtȯr-ˌment/

Middle English, from Anglo-French turment, torment, from Latin tormentum torture; akin to torquēre to twist

noun

  1. extreme pain or anguish of body or mind : agony

  2. a source of vexation or pain

  3. the infliction of torture (as by rack or wheel)

She wrung her hands piteously together, looking like a soul in torment.

verb

  1. to cause severe usually persistent or recurrent distress of body or mind to

  2. distort, twist

cattle tormented by flies

afflict try torment torture rack mean to inflict on a person something that is hard to bear. afflict is a general term and applies to the causing of pain or suffering or of acute annoyance, embarrassment, or any distress. try suggests imposing something that strains the powers of endurance or of self-control.

noun

  1. the act or an instance of tormenting oneself especially psychologically

years of self-torment