as in embarrassment
the emotional state of being made self-consciously uncomfortable
the mortification of being dumped the night before the prom
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Recent Examples of mortification
But Constance offered no more in her own defense, for all her mortification.
—
Jim Shepard, New Yorker, 8 June 2025
Oldman’s face, set in brooding concentration, evokes a pained, vaguely incredulous mortification, which builds to a bitter, almost paralyzing ruefulness.
—Houman Barekat, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025
Hong again employs the long table-time takes that have witnessed the mortification of so many drunken characters, this time skewering Donghwa.
—Nicolas Rapold, Deadline, 20 Feb. 2025
Whetstone said the power was with the poster and encouraged her mother to be remorseful, express mortification with her actions and work to make amends.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 31 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mortification
Jim Shepard, New Yorker, 8 June 2025
Oldman’s face, set in brooding concentration, evokes a pained, vaguely incredulous mortification, which builds to a bitter, almost paralyzing ruefulness.
—Houman Barekat, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025
Hong again employs the long table-time takes that have witnessed the mortification of so many drunken characters, this time skewering Donghwa.
—Nicolas Rapold, Deadline, 20 Feb. 2025
Whetstone said the power was with the poster and encouraged her mother to be remorseful, express mortification with her actions and work to make amends.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 31 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mortification
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mortification
Noun
-
The parents or hosts bearing a disproportionate share of the expense is not surprising, and should not be a cause of embarrassment as long as proper gratitude is expressed.—
Judith Martin,
Dallas Morning News,
19 Feb. 2026
-
The parents/hosts bearing a disproportionate share of the expense is not surprising, and should not be a cause of embarrassment as long as proper gratitude is expressed.—
Judith Martin,
Sun Sentinel,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Thirty-one years after founding the Vans Warped Tour, the pop-punk patriarch is looking at the modern music industry with a mixture of confusion and frustration.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
15 Feb. 2026
-
The result is not merely confusion about who is responsible but a gradual weakening of the expectations that make responsibility meaningful at all.—
Deb Roy,
The Atlantic,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Angelica’s attempt at humiliation fails, however, because Jason and Chris refuse to be shamed.—
Naomi Fry,
New Yorker,
21 Feb. 2026
-
As Melling plays the scene, there’s simultaneous humiliation and thrill.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
20 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mortification.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mortification. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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