excruciate

[ik-skroo-shee-eyt]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR excruciate 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.

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. 2019

Related Words for excruciate

agonize, smite, curse, distress, torture, bother, hurt, harass, torment, mistreat, plague, anguish

Examples from the Web for excruciate

Historical Examples of excruciate

But I need not excruciate you any longer;—any commands for town?
Kate Vernon, Vol. 1 (of 3)
Mrs. Alexander
He will be vulgarly stuck up, and excruciate me with every French word he attempts to pronounce.
Magnum Bonum
Charlotte M. Yonge

British Dictionary definitions for excruciate

excruciate

verb (tr)

to inflict mental suffering on; torment

obsolete to inflict physical pain on; torture

Derived Formsexcruciation, 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

Word Origin and History for excruciate

1560s, from Latin excruciatus, past participle of excruciare "to torture, torment, rack, plague;" figuratively "to afflict, harass, vex, torment," from ex- "out, thoroughly" (see ex-) + cruciare "cause pain or anguish to," literally "crucify," from crux (genitive crucis) "cross."