torment

Universal Words noun, verb noun [U,C] (written) extreme suffering, especially mental suffering; a person or thing that causes this: the cries of a man in torment * She suffered years of mental torment after her son's death. * The flies were a terrible torment. verb [VN] 1 (written) to make sb suffer very much: He was tormented by feelings of insecurity. 2 to annoy a person or an animal in a cruel way because you think it is amusing