MARTYRED Synonyms: 93 Similar and Opposite Words

martyred

verb

past tense of martyr

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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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 martyred The three Christian leaders—historical enemies—unite in that moment, are expelled, martyred, and resurrected. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 18 July 2026 She was martyred and mortified and endured and rose again in the eyes of the people. — Literary Hub, 14 Apr. 2026 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for martyred

Verb

The Chinese government denies the Uyghurs have been or are being persecuted.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 July 2026
As a senator, Marco Rubio was a strong supporter of the bureau and human rights broadly, once arguing from the Senate floor that safeguarding the freedoms of gay men who were persecuted in Chechnya — and all people — was in the national interest.

— Anna Maria Barry-Jester, ProPublica, 17 July 2026

Definition of persecuted

Verb

Dandara dos Santos was tortured and beaten to death by a group of twelve people, who eventually tossed her body in a wheelbarrow, shot her, and posted a video of the crime on social media.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 July 2026
Yes, Emmett Till, the 14-year-old Black boy who was abducted, tortured and lynched in Mississippi in 1955 after a White woman accused him of making an advance toward her.

— Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 23 July 2026

Definition of tortured

Verb

In a handwritten statement included in the application, Grayson appeared to show little remorse for his actions and maintained that Massey attacked him with the pot of hot water.

— Ava Kelley, NBC news, 31 July 2026
Ignorance is off the table and so is naivete, which leaves only motive — and so motive is what gets attacked.

— Sachin H. Jain, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026

Definition of attacked

Verb

Or suppose you’re being tormented by someone in power, but lack the ability to explain to others—or even to yourself—exactly how you’re being wronged.

— Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 24 July 2026
The trailer shows Depp as Scrooge tormented by the terrifying spirits of Christmas, haunting him throughout the Christmas season.

— Tanya Fedak, Variety, 23 July 2026

Definition of tormented

Verb

Blending horror with comedy, the Apple TV show takes place in a fictitious New England island town afflicted by a centuries-old curse that brings about supernatural evils.

— Beatrice Verhoeven, HollywoodReporter, 31 July 2026
In Seattle, by contrast, efforts to reduce public drug use force afflicted neighborhoods to pay a high price.

— Michael Powell, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026

Definition of afflicted

Verb

The species is now endangered, extinct on the Australian mainland for three thousand years and besieged on the island that is its last refuge.

— John Drake, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
The sidebar will open with Netflix’s Below, from creator Jesse McKeown, a six-part supernatural thriller that centers on a seaside town Newfoundland besieged by a sea creature and stars Mackenzie Davis, Charlie Heaton and Josh Hartnett.

— Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 23 July 2026

Definition of besieged

Verb

In the film, Robin Hood (Jackman), who feels cursed after leading a life of violent crime, is gravely wounded in a battle and seeks a chance at salvation while under the care of the mysterious Sister Brigid (Jodie Comer).

— Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
Does this explain why my dad told me we were cursed growing up?

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 22 July 2026

Definition of cursed

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martyrdoms

martyred

martyries

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“Martyred.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/martyred. Accessed 2 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of martyred

verb

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