To intentionally inflict severe pain or suffering on (someone).
In the aftermath of 9/11, we did some things that were wrong. We did a whole lot of things that were right, but, we tortured some folks. We did some things that were contrary to our values.
adjective
1
Having been subjected to torture, mental or physical.
2
Involving suffering and difficulty.
a tortured history
3
Of literature, burdened by unnecessary complexity, obfuscation, abstruseness, etc.