Synonyms

excruciate

American

[ik-skroo-shee-eyt] / ɪkˈskru ʃiˌeɪt /

verb (used with object)

excruciated, excruciating

to inflict severe pain upon; torture.

The headache excruciated him.
to cause mental anguish to; irritate greatly.

excruciate British

/ ɪkˈskruːʃɪˌeɪt /

verb

to inflict mental suffering on; torment
obsolete to inflict physical pain on; torture

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

excruciation

noun

Etymology

Origin of excruciate

1560–70; < Latin excruciātus, past participle of excruciāre to torment, torture, equivalent to ex- ex- ¹ + cruciāre to torment, crucify (derivative of crux cross); see -ate ¹

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023