verb (used with object), ex·cru·ci·at·ed, ex·cru·ci·at·ing.
- to inflict severe pain upon; torture: The headache excruciated him.
- to cause mental anguish to; irritate greatly.
verb (tr)
- to inflict mental suffering on; torment
- obsolete to inflict physical pain on; torture
1560s, from Latin excruciatus, past participle of excruciare “to torture, torment, rack, plague;” figuratively “to afflict, harass, vex, torment,” from ex- “out, thoroughly” (see ex-) + cruciare “cause pain or anguish to,” literally “crucify,” from crux (genitive crucis) “cross.”