MARTYR Synonyms: 109 Similar and Opposite Words

martyr 1 of 2

verb

Definition of martyr

as in to attack

to kill (someone) for refusing to give up a belief or cause

—usually used as (be) martyred He was martyred for his religious beliefs.

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martyr

2 of 2

noun

as in sacrifice

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of martyr

Verb

Porter need not be martyred like Good and Pretti. — Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 7 Mar. 2026 Iran, with its sophisticated military, near-nuclear capability, proxy networks spanning the region and a regime now martyred by foreign attack, will likely not be the exception. — Farah N. Jan, The Conversation, 2 Mar. 2026

Noun

This vessel has a controversial past, built by Nazi Germany in 1935 as SSS *Horst Wessel*, named after a Nazi martyr, before being taken as war reparations by the US. — Peter Suciu, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026 But the bans only enhanced his fame, with conservative pundits hailing him as a free-speech martyr. — Heidi Blake, New Yorker, 8 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for martyr

Recent Examples of Synonyms for martyr

Verb

That strike came after Kuwait said Iran attacked one of its water facilities.

— Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026
The chain of events that led to another extermination began when Lauren Cohan’s Maggie and Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s Negan captured their season 2 nemesis, the Dama (Lisa Emery), after the big bad had her men attack them.

— Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of attack

Verb

On his latest Hyperdub release, the Japanese producer born Takahide Higuchi sings more than on previous records but tortures his voice through a gauntlet of pitch-shifter effects.

— Daniel Bromfield, Pitchfork, 27 July 2026
Just as Lauren warned Porsha to be careful fighting with Shamea because Shamea knows exactly how to rile her up, Porsha knows how to play the perfect mind game to torture her ex bestie.

— Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 27 July 2026

Definition of torture

Noun

No longer football’s famous losers, Newcastle’s identity was now blurred.

— George Caulkin, New York Times, 30 July 2026
Winners and losers in the shifting tax landscape Critics say the trend toward lower income taxes favors wealthy individuals and corporations and imperils public investments in infrastructure, housing, education and childcare.

— Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 30 July 2026

Definition of loser

Verb

When the discovery of new evidence results in Cady’s freedom, his new mission is to torment Anna (Amy Adams) and Tom Bowden (Patrick Wilson), the attorney and prosecutor on his case, who are now married and have two teenaged children.

— Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 31 July 2026
Picture LeBron in his advanced age tormenting the Knicks one more time, denying them a two-peat, before beating the Spurs or Thunder in the finals.

— Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 30 July 2026

Definition of torment

Verb

Stylistically, this encyclopedic catch-all of genres readily segues from sermons and soliloquies to thrilling action sequences and anguished cris de coeur.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 July 2026
His effort to have (ahem) his cake and eat it too regarding Iran — acting reportedly anguished behind closed doors but publicly supportive of the administration — speaks to a level of calculation that makes people uncomfortable.

— Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 23 June 2026

Definition of anguish

Verb

In The Bacchae, Dionysus becomes violent only because his existence has been denied and his followers persecuted, and his maenads similarly become destructive only when pursued.

— Angelica Frey, JSTOR Daily, 31 July 2026
Germany and Austria have unique programs that offer citizenship to the descendants of anyone who was persecuted or feared persecution by the Nazi regime between 1933 and 1945.

— Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 July 2026

Definition of persecute

Verb

The following season, Toney appeared in a career-high 13 games, but he was plagued by drops and a late-season injury.

— Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 1 Aug. 2026
The project to give the pool a facelift to celebrate the United States’ 250th birthday began in April, but has been beset by difficulties after it became plagued by an algae bloom and the pool’s new blue lining began to peel.

— Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of plague

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“Martyr.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/martyr. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of martyr

verb

noun

Example Sentences

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