to torment; to torture; to afflict; to harrow
後悔の念が彼女を長年苛んだ。
Regret tormented her for many years.
失敗の記憶が今も彼を苛んでいる。
The memory of his failure still torments him.
重い病に苛まれながらも彼は最後まで執筆を続けた。
Even while tormented by serious illness, he continued writing until the end.