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excruciate

[ ik-skroo-shee-eyt ]
/ ɪkˈskru ʃiˌeɪt /
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See synonyms for: excruciate / excruciating on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), ex·cru·ci·at·ed, ex·cru·ci·at·ing.
to inflict severe pain upon; torture: The headache excruciated him.
to cause mental anguish to; irritate greatly.
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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 -ate1
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use excruciate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for excruciate

excruciate
/ (ɪkˈskruːʃɪˌeɪt) /

verb (tr)
to inflict mental suffering on; torment
obsolete to inflict physical pain on; torture

Derived forms of excruciate

excruciation, noun

Word Origin for excruciate

C16: from Latin excruciāre, from cruciāre to crucify, from crux cross
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
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