torture

1 to cause persistent suffering to the neighbor's dog constantly tortures our cat, barking at him and chasing him down the street Synonyms agonize, anguish, bedevil, beset, besiege, curse, excruciate, harrow, persecute, plague, rack, torment, afflictRelated Words assail, attack; badger, dog, hound, pursue, ride; aggravate, agitate, annoy, bother, bug, chafe, distress, disturb, exasperate, gall, get, grate, gripe, hagride, harass, harry, irk, irritate, molest, nettle, peeve, pester, pique, put out, rasp, rile, vex; discomfort, discompose, disquiet, fluster, grieve, perturb, strain, stress, trouble, try, upset, worry; crush, oppress, overpower, overwhelm, smite, strike, tyrannize, victimize; hurt, pain, pang, prick, smart, stab, sting, wring; martyrNear Antonyms abet, aid, assist, help; deliver, release, relieve, reprieve; comfort, console, content, quiet, solace, soothe, succor

2 to twist (something) out of a natural or normal shape or condition tortured her naturally straight hair into curls Synonyms deform, distort, misshape, screw, squinch, contort, warpRelated Words deface, disfigure; wrench, wrest, wring; coil, curl, loop, spiral, twine, wind, wreatheNear Antonyms straighten, unbend, uncurl