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excruciate

[ik-skroo-shee-eyt]
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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.

RELATED WORDS

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

Nearby words

  1. excretory,
  2. excretory duct,
  3. excretory ductule of lacrimal gland,
  4. excretory gland,
  5. excretory system,
  6. excruciating,
  7. excruciation,
  8. excubitorium,
  9. excud.,
  10. excudit

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

Examples from the Web for 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

excruciate

v.

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."

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper