mortification

noun

mor·​ti·​fi·​ca·​tion ˌmȯr-tə-fə-ˈkā-shən 

1

a

: a sense of humiliation and shame caused by something that wounds one's pride or self-respect

… the mortification of being jilted …

—Washington Irving

b

: the cause of such humiliation or shame

2

: necrosis, gangrene

3

: the subjection and denial of bodily passions and appetites by abstinence or self-inflicted pain or discomfort

was customary to practice mortification during Lent

Synonyms of mortification

• embarrassment
• confusion
• humiliation

Examples of mortification in a Sentence

the mortification of being dumped the night before the prom

Recent Examples on the Web

As if unable to resist her own mortification, Leonora asks if the bed is comfortable. — Literary Hub, 17 Nov. 2025

Springsteen’s reaction was a mix of mortification and bemusement. — Eric Cortellessa, Time, 2 Apr. 2026

The cringing mortifications and unsettling unreality make the series a tough sit. — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 11 Oct. 2025

Instead, every new Drake project is a buffet of humiliation, mortification, and self-serving delusion. — Jayson Greene, Pitchfork, 18 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Phrases Containing mortification

• self-mortification

Rhymes for mortification

• abbreviation
• abomination
• acceleration
• accentuation
• accommodation
• accreditation
• acculturation
• accumulation
• acetylation
• adjudication
• administration
• adulteration

Medical Definition

mortification

noun

mor·​ti·​fi·​ca·​tion ˌmȯrt-ə-fə-ˈkā-shən 

: local death of tissue in the animal body : necrosis, gangrene