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
Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 28 Aug. 2025
But closer to me, and with greater incident, these phrases are inflected by the voice of Hiba Abu Nada, the Gazan poet who was martyred in an Israeli airstrike on October 20, 2023.
—Huda Fakhreddine
august 28, Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2025
Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 20 Jan. 2026
Western governments widely viewed her imprisonment as selective justice, a prison sentence that recast her from oligarchic insider into democratic martyr.
—Katya Soldak, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for martyr
Verb
His desperate, lacerating Teddy is a character who has ruined his own life, who has martyred himself out of his devotion to The Truth.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 28 Aug. 2025
But closer to me, and with greater incident, these phrases are inflected by the voice of Hiba Abu Nada, the Gazan poet who was martyred in an Israeli airstrike on October 20, 2023.
—Huda Fakhreddine
august 28, Literary Hub, 28 Aug. 2025
Noun
Kirk’s allies quickly tried to tell a new story—one of Kirk as sacred martyr.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 20 Jan. 2026
Western governments widely viewed her imprisonment as selective justice, a prison sentence that recast her from oligarchic insider into democratic martyr.
—Katya Soldak, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for martyr
Recent Examples of Synonyms for martyr
Verb
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When drones attacked Saudi Aramco facilities in Abqaiq, Saudi Arabia, in 2019, taking out 5% of the country’s oil production, prices spiked but surprisingly returned to normal within a matter of weeks.—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
20 Feb. 2026
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The fight marks Strickland’s first bout since he was suspended from the UFC in July 2025 for attacking another fighter while working as a cornerman during an event.—
Jack Dunn,
Variety,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
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As devastating secrets surface, the youngest son, Matt, must navigate a path between love and loyalty, sacrifice and the chance at his own happiness.—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
21 Feb. 2026
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But those windows do mean a slight sacrifice of privacy.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
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According to court records, Quero Silva is defending himself against the new federal lawsuit accusing him of torturing the protestors in Barquisimeto.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
13 Feb. 2026
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Her husband says she has been tortured after her arrest.—
Somayeh Malekian,
ABC News,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The country doesn’t have answers that don’t involve upskilling, education, or trying and failing to compensate the losers.—
Annie Lowrey,
The Atlantic,
18 Feb. 2026
-
There were no winners or losers, at least in the typical uses of the terms, and at the end of the night, people continued with friendly conversation, well after the game had ended.—
Jeff Banowetz,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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It's been three years since Temple University Police Sergeant Christopher Fitzgerald was killed in the line of duty — a day that's tormented Sgt.—
Kerri Corrado,
CBS News,
19 Feb. 2026
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Seattle’s swarming pass rush tormented Campbell and left guard Jared Wilson — another rookie — throughout Super Bowl LX, a game in which the Seahawks recorded six sacks and forced three turnovers by quarterback Drake Maye.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Morgan’s childhood was filled with anguishing losses.—
Sam McDowell
February 8,
Kansas City Star,
8 Feb. 2026
-
First, Monty Miller (a suave, anguished Jon Hamm), Tommy’s lifelong friend and billionaire founder of M-Tex, dies suddenly, but not before naming the fixer as the new company president.—
Michael M. Rosen,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Branding peaceful protesters as ‘terrorists,’ and Christians that are persecuted every year as ‘Zionist mercenaries,’ is nothing but scapegoating.—
Benjamin Weinthal,
FOXNews.com,
13 Feb. 2026
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The Secret Agent’s primary setting is a house full of misfits and refugees in the northeastern city of Recife, a safe harbor from those persecuted by the country’s military regime, ruled over by the inimitable Dona Sebastiana (Tânia Maria, whose role was written specifically for her).—
Nate Jones,
Vulture,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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That first test flight was also plagued by hydrogen fuel leaks before blasting off, as well as a helium issue similar to the one that arose Saturday.—
Marcia Dunn,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Feb. 2026
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Nell Tiger Free stars as a young novice who works at a Catholic orphanage plagued by mysterious, disturbing circumstances.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
21 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Martyr.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/martyr. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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