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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Recent Examples of martyr
Farah N. Jan, The Conversation, 2 Mar. 2026
Khamenei, an ailing octogenarian, frequently spoke of his willingness to be martyred, and regime officials have claimed that Israel already tried to target them last summer, when Israel and Iran traded strikes in what would become known as the Twelve-Day War.
—Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2026
Jackie Hajdenberg, Sun Sentinel, 21 Apr. 2026
The push to elevate Zarutska as a martyr is part of the long backlash to the summer of 2020, after which one online database catalogued thousands of pieces of street art depicting Floyd.
—David Weigel, semafor.com, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for martyr
Verb
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
Khamenei, an ailing octogenarian, frequently spoke of his willingness to be martyred, and regime officials have claimed that Israel already tried to target them last summer, when Israel and Iran traded strikes in what would become known as the Twelve-Day War.
—Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 1 Mar. 2026
Noun
Nathan learned about the fate of a great-aunt, who was confined at Theresienstadt, and her grandson, who by a circuitous, ultimately tragic path is remembered by Catholics as a martyr.
—Jackie Hajdenberg, Sun Sentinel, 21 Apr. 2026
The push to elevate Zarutska as a martyr is part of the long backlash to the summer of 2020, after which one online database catalogued thousands of pieces of street art depicting Floyd.
—David Weigel, semafor.com, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for martyr
Recent Examples of Synonyms for martyr
Verb
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Rather than attacking all rapidly growing cells, as chemotherapy does, the drug targets a key cancer-driving pathway known as KRAS, which is involved in more than 90% of pancreatic tumors.—
Luzdelia Caballero,
CBS News,
5 June 2026
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Akindahunsi is accused of attacking several women the night of May 28.—
Summer Lin,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
Noun
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Data shows 41% of single women buyers made financial sacrifices to save enough to buy a house, including cutting back on non-essential goods, entertainment and even taking on second jobs.—
Kathy Collins,
Fortune,
6 June 2026
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By Sebastian Smee The meanings of words such as honor, sacrifice, and humility have been leaking away from American civic life like red blood cells from an anemic.—
Boris Kachka,
The Atlantic,
5 June 2026
Verb
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She was arrested at a hotel near the barn and booked at the Clark County Juvenile Hall on 12 counts of animal cruelty, including intentionally aiming or torturing a horse, as well as three counts of malicious destruction of property.—
Emily Mae Czachor,
CBS News,
1 June 2026
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She was later transported to the Clark County Juvenile Hall and charged with 12 counts of willful or malicious killing, maiming or torturing an animal and three counts of felony malicious destruction of private property valued at more than $5,000, police said.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
1 June 2026
Noun
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The Mercury will look to stop a six-game losing streak against the Storm, losers of three straight.—
Data Skrive,
New York Times,
3 June 2026
-
Beta Cinema was another of the losers.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
3 June 2026
Verb
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The criminal mastermind, created by author Arthur Conan Doyle to torment his famously observant protagonist, is set to star in his own drama series from Archery Pictures and Fremantle.—
K.J. Yossman,
Variety,
28 May 2026
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Torres continues to show great flair in writing for Oscar winners, though, with Portman playing a mother delighted by her daughter’s interest in a step-child doll to torment.—
Jesse Hassenger,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 May 2026
Verb
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Robert Penn Warren’s 1946 novel is the story of the rise and fall of a Southern populist, the Louisiana governor Willie Stark—a fictional Huey Long (even if Warren downplayed the likeness)—as told by Stark’s wisecracking, anguished, Hamlet-y henchman, Jack Burden.—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
12 May 2026
-
Hong Kong is an anguishing example.—
Michelle Kuo,
The Dial,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Jack Hayford, the founder of the King’s University, in Texas, claimed that the film was persecuting Christians, who only wanted to be treated equally.—
Isaac Butler,
New Yorker,
30 May 2026
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During and shortly after the Spanish Civil War, Franco’s regime, too, persecuted Esperantists for the language’s association with anti–nationalism and anarchism.—
Katie Thornton,
Harpers Magazine,
26 May 2026
Verb
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Yet that weariness doesn’t plague the music itself.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
6 June 2026
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President Joe Biden's legacy is plagued by communication issues.—
Jay Stahl,
USA Today,
6 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Martyr.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/martyr. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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