crucify

verb cru·ci·fy \ ˈkrü-sə-ˌfī \

|Updated on: 16 Jun 2018

Examples: crucify in a Sentence

Definition of crucify

crucified; crucifying

transitive verb

1 : to put to death by nailing or binding the wrists or hands and feet to a cross

2 : to destroy the power of : mortify

crucify the flesh

3 a : to treat cruelly : torment

b : pillory 2

crucified in the press

—

crucifier

play \ˈkrü-sə-ˌfī-ər\ noun

See crucify defined for English-language learners

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Examples of crucify in a Sentence

They crucified her in the newspapers for having an affair.

Recent Examples of crucify from the Web

Once traces its roots back to Biblical times, when early Christians believes Jesus was crucified on a Friday and his betrayer, Judas Iscariot, was the 13th guest at the Last Supper.

— leada gore, AL.com, "Why is Friday 13th considered unlucky?," 13 Apr. 2018
Palm Sunday, the last Sunday of Lent, commemorates the triumphant arrival of Jesus Christ in Jerusalem just days before he was crucified on a cross, later to rise again.

— diane mastrull, Philly.com, "Palm Sunday celebrations mark the start of Holy Week," 25 Mar. 2018
In Jerusalem, crowds also flocked to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, built on the site where Christians believe Jesus was crucified, buried and resurrected.

— the new york times, New York Times, "Pope Francis Delivers Plea for Peace in Easter Sunday Mass," 1 Apr. 2018
Christ is crucified when Christian communities are bombed by terrorists in the Middle East — and faraway people like us turn our backs on the savagery.

— atlanta life, ajc, "Crucifixion still happening in the world today," 23 Mar. 2018
In 2012, the singer was publicly crucified for her decision to get back together with Brown.

— alia e. dastagir, USA TODAY, "The #MeToo survivors we forgot," 19 Apr. 2018
Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington, for example, questioned why Facebook temporarily rejected an image from a Catholic university in Ohio showing Jesus being crucified.

— deepa seetharaman, WSJ, "In Facebook Hearings, Lawmakers Ramp Up Talk of Regulation," 11 Apr. 2018
Undamaged was the shrine's relic - a fragment of what is believed to be the cross on which Jesus was crucified - is enclosed in an elaborate display case.

— jennifer michelle greenberg, Houston Chronicle, "Dickinson Shrine of the True Cross church, school make progress in Harvey recovery," 29 Mar. 2018
Notable recent cases include the 2014 claim that Ukrainian armed forces had crucified a child in the city of Slavyansk after soldiers regained control of it from pro-Russia rebels.

— Washington Post, "Putin is heir to Russia’s long disinformation experience," 23 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'crucify.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of crucify

Middle English crucifien, from Anglo-French crucifier, from Late Latin crucifigere

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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CRUCIFY Defined for English Language Learners

crucify

verb

Definition of crucify for English Language Learners

: to kill (someone) by nailing or tying his or her hands and feet to a cross
: to criticize (someone or something) very harshly

CRUCIFY Defined for Kids

crucify

verb cru·ci·fy \ ˈkrü-sə-ˌfī \

Definition of crucify for Students

crucified; crucifying

1 : to put to death by nailing or binding the hands and feet to a cross

2 : to treat cruelly or harshly

Dishonest judges were crucified in the newspapers.

Learn More about crucify

See words that rhyme with crucify Spanish Central: Translation of crucify Nglish: Translation of crucify for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of crucify for Arabic speakers

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crucify

Definition of crucify

crucifier

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Origin and Etymology of crucify

CRUCIFY Defined for English Language Learners

crucify

Definition of crucify for English Language Learners

CRUCIFY Defined for Kids

crucify

Definition of crucify for Students

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crucify

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crucifier

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