Torturer: meaning, definitions and examples

Used to describe someone who deliberately inflicts severe pain or suffering on others, typically in a systematic and ruthless manner, often for information, punishment, or intimidation.

• The torturer showed no mercy as he extracted information from the prisoner.
• Stories of wartime torturers haunted the survivors for years.

Describes someone who questions others, often intensively, to obtain information. This can be in legal, military, or police contexts and does not necessarily imply violence or cruelty.

• The interrogator patiently asked the suspect about his whereabouts on the night of the crime.
• An experienced interrogator can often tell when someone is lying.

Refers to a person who mistreats others, often by using physical or emotional violence, control, or manipulation. This term is frequently used in contexts of domestic violence or child abuse.

• She bravely testified against her abuser in court.
• Victims of childhood abusers often need years of therapy.

Used to denote a person who derives pleasure from inflicting pain or suffering on others. It is a highly negative term that indicates a deep psychological issue.

• He was known as a sadist, enjoying the pain he caused to others.
• Her sadistic tendencies made her feared in the entire neighborhood.

A 'torturer' carries out the act of inflicting physical or psychological pain on someone often for the purpose of punishment, coercion, or sheer cruelty. This term has strong negative connotations and is typically used in reference to historical or legal contexts.

• The medieval castle had a dungeon where the torturer would extract confessions.
• Reports revealed that political prisoners were abused by their torturers.

An 'inquisitor' is someone who questions or investigates thoroughly, often used in a context of historical religious courts (Inquisition). The term can also refer to someone who is overly harsh or intrusive in their questioning, giving it a negative slant.

• During the Spanish Inquisition, inquisitors sought out heretics and forced confessions.
• The journalist's inquisitor-like approach made the interviewee very uncomfortable.

An 'executioner' is a person who legally carries out capital punishment, often by hanging, shooting, or other methods. Although the role is practical, it usually carries a grim, negative connotation.

• The executioner stepped forward to carry out the death sentence.
• In historical dramas, the executioner is often portrayed as a foreboding figure.

A 'tormentor' is someone who causes severe physical or emotional suffering to another person. This term is used in a broader sense and often describes bullies or abusers, carrying a strong negative connotation.

• The child was afraid to go to school because of his relentless tormentor.
• She could not escape the memories of her childhood tormentor.