SINCE 1828
dictionary
thesaurus
view recents

play the martyr

idiom
Save Word

Definition of play the martyr

: to act like someone who deserves admiration or sympathy because of being badly treated

Learn More About play the martyr

Dictionary Entries Near play the martyr

play the market

play the martyr

play the part

See More Nearby Entries 

Statistics for play the martyr

Cite this Entry

“Play the martyr.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/play%20the%20martyr. Accessed 17 Oct. 2021.

Style: MLA
MLACheck Mark Icon ChicagoCheck Mark Icon APACheck Mark Icon Merriam-WebsterCheck Mark Icon

WORD OF THE DAY

perpetuity

Listen to the pronunciation of perpetuity

See Definitions and Examples »

Test Your Vocabulary

Farm Idioms Quiz

  • cow coming home
  • What does 'poke' refer to in the expression 'pig in a poke'?
Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

TAKE THE QUIZ
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games