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
Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 July 2025
The immense popularity of The German Lesson (1968) by author Siegfried Lenz, however, greatly contributed to creating the legend of Nolde as a martyr of the Nazi regime.
—Ombline Damy, JSTOR Daily, 26 June 2025
Lucas Aulbach, The Courier-Journal, 24 Dec. 2024
He apparently was martyred in Azerbaijan, which is an interesting tidbit.
—Alice Burton, Vulture, 30 Aug. 2024
See All Example Sentences for martyr
Verb
The First Academy was portrayed as a compulsive cheater
Bridgewater is being portrayed as a compassionate martyr.
—Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 July 2025
The immense popularity of The German Lesson (1968) by author Siegfried Lenz, however, greatly contributed to creating the legend of Nolde as a martyr of the Nazi regime.
—Ombline Damy, JSTOR Daily, 26 June 2025
Noun
The myths are impossible to confirm hundreds of years later, Beach said, but the story is that Magnus was a Roman soldier who helped gather Christians to be martyred.
—Lucas Aulbach, The Courier-Journal, 24 Dec. 2024
He apparently was martyred in Azerbaijan, which is an interesting tidbit.
—Alice Burton, Vulture, 30 Aug. 2024
See All Example Sentences for martyr
Recent Examples of Synonyms for martyr
Verb
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Cardi also dropped a trailer for the album, showing her inside a house as crows swarm and attack her mansion.—
Tomás Mier,
Rolling Stone,
15 Aug. 2025
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The Vera Institute's advocacy arm Vera Action, for example, assessed that the the GOP spent more than $1 billion attacking Democrats on crime and immigration in 2024, while Democrats spent roughly $319 million on advertisements that played up their public safety records.—
Francesca Chambers,
USA Today,
15 Aug. 2025
Noun
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See photos from the scene and a procession of officers honoring their life, service and sacrifice.—
Lorenzino Estrada,
AZCentral.com,
7 Aug. 2025
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War in Russian is all about sacrifice for the motherland, the individual dying and achieving glory for the greater good.—
David Hambling,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
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For more than three weeks, Halimi was held hostage and tortured.—
Rachel Wolf,
FOXNews.com,
15 Aug. 2025
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Initially, Patricia had been kept blindfolded and tied to a chair in the same house where José was tortured.—
Sam Gillette,
People.com,
8 Aug. 2025
Noun
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With existing sanctions on Russia and potentially new ones at stake, the eventual outcome of the Trump-Putin summit will create winners and losers in the energy space.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
15 Aug. 2025
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Legislative appropriations committees could — and did — secretly decide which bills would reach the floors of both houses and just announce the winners and losers without explanation.—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Walker Buehler penned a gem of his own, tormenting his former NL West rival over six shutout innings.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
9 Aug. 2025
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These were the questions that tormented Levine in the weeks after her father’s death.—
Alessandra Schade,
Time,
5 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Almost too passionately anguished, Austen is a sonnet played on the fortepiano, while Winslet is Liszt banged out on a Steinway.—
Tom Gliatto,
People.com,
19 July 2025
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Teresa Romero, president of United Farm Workers, the labor union that has long represented California field hands from Mexico and other points outside the United States, said in a statement Saturday night that Garcia's death has left the organization anguished.—
Dennis Romero,
NBC news,
13 July 2025
Verb
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In late-night filings Thursday, the Manhattan U.S. attorney’s office pushed back on recent framing by Combs’ lawyers portraying him as persecuted.—
Molly Crane-Newman,
New York Daily News,
1 Aug. 2025
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Open Doors is a global Christian charity which supports and speaks up for Christians persecuted for their faith.—
Paul Tilsley,
FOXNews.com,
31 July 2025
Verb
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No mysteries plagued Preller this summer as far as which Padres positions needed upgrades ahead of the July 31 trade deadline.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
17 Aug. 2025
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Diversity in jury pools have been longstanding issues plaguing the criminal justice system.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
15 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Martyr.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/martyr. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
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