SINCE 1828
Chinese water torture
nounDefinition of Chinese water torture
: a form of torture in which a person is restrained and subjected to repetitive drips of water on the forehead
I heard beeping for two days … It was driving me crazy like Chinese water torture. — Carol Kallberg, Daily Record (Wooster, Ohio), 14 Oct. 2012
—often used figuratively Better to execute layoffs quickly and decisively, experts say … The alternate—the drip-drip-drip of repeated downsizings—is a Chinese water torture that kills morale and productivity.— Daniel McGinn, Newsweek, 25 June 2001
Keep scrolling for more
Comments on Chinese water torture
What made you want to look up Chinese water torture? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
Where in the World? A Quiz
-
- What language does pajama come from?
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
TAKE THE QUIZ
Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games
-
Where in the World? A Quiz
Do you know what languages these words come from?
Take the quiz -
Advanced Vocabulary Quiz
Tough words and tougher competition.
Take the quiz -
Spell It
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
Take the quiz -
Citation
Do you know the person or title these quotes describe?
Play the game
Share Chinese water torture
Resources for Chinese water torture