torment

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tor·ment • n. / ˈtôrment/ severe physical or mental suffering: their deaths have left both families in torment. ∎  a cause of such suffering: the journey must have been a torment for them.• v. / tôrˈment/ [tr.] cause to experience severe mental or physical suffering: he was tormented by jealousy. ∎  annoy or provoke in a deliberately unkind way: every day I have kids tormenting me because they know I live alone.DERIVATIVES: tor·ment·ed·ly / tôrˈmentədlē/ adv.tor·ment·ing·ly / tôrˈmenting/ adv.tor·men·tor / tôrˈmentər/ n.