torment

n. great mental or physical pain that lasts for a long time.

n. a state of intense physical or mental suffering; often used to describe prolonged anguish.

“The memory of the accident was a constant torment to him.”

“The prisoner endured years of mental torment, isolated from any contact with the outside world or his family.”

n. something or someone that causes you a lot of trouble or pain.

n. a person or thing that is a source of severe pain, annoyance, or anxiety.

“The noisy neighbors were a daily torment for the elderly couple.”

“For the young athlete, the recurring knee injury became a persistent torment that threatened to end his professional career prematurely.”

v. to make someone suffer a lot, either physically or mentally.

v. to inflict severe physical or mental distress upon someone.

“The guilt of his mistake continued to torment him for years.”

“The dictator was known to torment his political rivals with arbitrary arrests and public humiliations.”

v. to bother or tease someone in a cruel or annoying way.

v. to harass or tease someone persistently; often implies a power imbalance or repetitive nature.

“The older boys used to torment him on the school bus every morning.”

“The kitten would playfully torment the older dog by nipping at its tail whenever it tried to sleep.”