as in persecuted
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 martyred
So did the entire first generation of Christians, many of whom were martyred.
—
Case Thorp, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Apr. 2026
One of our colleagues has been martyred.
—CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
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
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
And martyred, really, martyred for his beliefs.
—Dallas Morning News, 25 Feb. 2026
So last year, Charlie was violently murdered by an assassin and martyred, really martyred for his beliefs.
—Time Staff, Time, 25 Feb. 2026
Charlie Kirk invited me to speak at Amfest a few weeks ago before he was martyred.
—Mandy Taheri
jason Lemon, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
Case Thorp, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Apr. 2026
One of our colleagues has been martyred.
—CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
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
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
And martyred, really, martyred for his beliefs.
—Dallas Morning News, 25 Feb. 2026
So last year, Charlie was violently murdered by an assassin and martyred, really martyred for his beliefs.
—Time Staff, Time, 25 Feb. 2026
Charlie Kirk invited me to speak at Amfest a few weeks ago before he was martyred.
—Mandy Taheri
jason Lemon, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for martyred
Verb
-
The Eduiot site includes photographs and audiovisual material, and features the accounts of parents, siblings, cousins, nephews and nieces of Jews persecuted and disappeared under the dictatorship.—
Juan Melamed,
Sun Sentinel,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The helpless and much persecuted turtles were cooked in a rich, creamy soup with chunks of meat.—
James Stout,
Outside,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Two others who authorities say have tortured their children await their courtroom fates after being hit with dozens of abuse counts.—
Charles Selle,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Schiller was tortured endlessly.—
Troy Roberts,
CBS News,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
While Hungary is a member of the European Union, Orbán has repeatedly attacked the it and clashed with his European counterparts on several issues, including Russia's war in Ukraine, using his veto power to try to block the EU's efforts to support Ukraine.—
Hannah Demissie,
ABC News,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Milton residents are voicing safety concerns in the Blue Hills Reservation after Massachusetts State Police say a man stabbed a dog that allegedly attacked him.—
Samantha Chaney,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
As Amadeus’ brilliance continues to flourish in spite of his personal demons, a questionable reputation and scepticism from the conservative court, Salieri becomes increasingly tormented by this apparent divine gift.—
Payton Turkeltaub,
Variety,
1 Apr. 2026
-
She is tormented by the fact that the june bug seems entirely unconcerned about becoming bait or being deported.—
María Ospina,
The Dial,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In late February, the public feud escalated after Trump assailed Anthropic and ordered government agencies to stop using its technology.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Election officials and experts assailed the review, done by the security firm Cyber Ninjas—which made claims about the election process that were disputed by state and county election officials—as deeply flawed and partisan.—
Sarah Fitzpatrick,
The Atlantic,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
It is usually only afflicted by slugs, which can be easily managed, or crown rot due to overwatering.—
Natalia Gonzalez Blanco Serrano,
The Spruce,
5 Apr. 2026
-
In the months following surgery, many women are afflicted by post-mastectomy pain syndrome, or PMPS, which spans from uncomfortable to disabling and can last years.—
Brett Kelman,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Early on, the Biden team had been besieged with desperate pleas to ship more of the then scarce vaccine.—
David Blumenthal,
STAT,
24 Mar. 2026
-
When news circulated about the gathering, Temple Emanu-El was besieged with inquiries from the local media.—
Joshua M. Davidson,
New York Daily News,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
It has been said that Persian Gulf countries are both blessed and cursed by their vast oil and gas reserves.—
Scott L. Montgomery,
The Conversation,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Another frequent speaker gave Walters the middle finger during his turn at the lectern and sometimes cursed during remarks.—
Nuria Martinez-Keel,
Oklahoma Voice,
7 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Martyred.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/martyred. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
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