The difference between Anguish and Torture

When used as nouns, anguish means extreme pain, either of body or mind, whereas torture means intentional causing of somebody's experiencing agony.

When used as verbs, anguish means to suffer pain, whereas torture means to intentionally inflict severe pain or suffering on (someone).


check bellow for the other definitions of Anguish and Torture

  1. Anguish as a noun:

    Extreme pain, either of body or mind; excruciating distress.

  1. Anguish as a verb (intransitive):

    To suffer pain.

  2. Anguish as a verb (transitive):

    To cause to suffer pain.

  1. Torture as a noun:

    Intentional causing of somebody's experiencing agony.

    Examples:

    "Using large dogs to attack bound, hand-cuffed prisoners is clearly torture."

    "In every war there are acts of torture that cause the world to shudder."

    "People [[confess]] to [[anything]] under torture."

  2. Torture as a noun (chiefly, literary):

    The "suffering of the heart" imposed by one on another, as in personal relationships.

    Examples:

    "Every time she says 'goodbye' it is torture!"

    "Coventry City midfielder Josh Ruffels described his 11 months out injured as 'absolute torture' after the goalless draw with Derby County Under-21s.'' ([http://www.ccfc.co.uk/news/article/eleven-months-of-absolute-torture-760652.aspx])"

  3. Torture as a noun (colloquial):

    (often as "absolute torture") stage fright, severe embarrassment.

  1. Torture as a verb (transitive):

    To intentionally inflict severe pain or suffering on (someone).

    Examples:

    "People who torture often have sadistic tendencies."

    "In the aftermath of 9/11, we did some things that were wrong. We did a whole lot of things that were right, but, we tortured some folks. We did some things that were contrary to our values."

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