excruciate

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

QUIZZES

DON’T VACILLATE! VANQUISH THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!

It’d be a real faux pas to miss this quiz on the words from August 3–9, 2020!
Question 1 of 7
What does “vacillate” mean?
to waver in mind or opinion; be indecisive or irresolute.
to cause to be empty or unoccupied.
to assent tacitly; agree; consent.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

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

Words nearby excruciate

excretory, excretory duct, excretory ductule of lacrimal gland, excretory gland, excretory system, excruciate, excruciating, excruciation, excubitorium, excud., excudit
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to excruciate

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

Example sentences 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
/ (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