Illustration of thumbscrew
- thumbscrew 2
thumbscrew
noun
thumb·screw
ˈthəm-ˌskrü 
1
: an instrument of torture for compressing the thumb by a screw
2
: a screw having a flat-sided or knurled head so that it may be turned by the thumb and index finger
Examples of thumbscrew in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The collar is metal, tightens with a thumbscrew, and rotates freely without detent stops.
—
PCMAG, 1 Feb. 2024
In it, the strip lays out various torture methods listed by pain level: thumbscrews, the rack, the pillory, the Iron Maiden.
—Rachel Desantis, Peoplemag, 12 Sep. 2023
Lock the cable in place by tightening the retaining thumbscrew.
—Joseph Truini, Popular Mechanics, 10 Aug. 2021
So was the Labour Party’s use of thumbscrews on its wavering MPs.
—The Economist, 19 Oct. 2019
PCMAG, 1 Feb. 2024
In it, the strip lays out various torture methods listed by pain level: thumbscrews, the rack, the pillory, the Iron Maiden.
—Rachel Desantis, Peoplemag, 12 Sep. 2023
Lock the cable in place by tightening the retaining thumbscrew.
—Joseph Truini, Popular Mechanics, 10 Aug. 2021
So was the Labour Party’s use of thumbscrews on its wavering MPs.
—The Economist, 19 Oct. 2019
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'thumbscrew.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Thumbscrew.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/thumbscrew. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
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