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
The comments section features a piquant blend of solemnity, mortification, tastelessness, and transphobia, which accords with Moreschi’s reception in his lifetime.
—
Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
As if unable to resist her own mortification, Leonora asks if the bed is comfortable.
—Literary Hub, 17 Nov. 2025
The cringing mortifications and unsettling unreality make the series a tough sit.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 11 Oct. 2025
Embarrassment and mortification at best, misunderstandings and criticism at worst.
—Grace Aldridge Foster, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mortification
Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
As if unable to resist her own mortification, Leonora asks if the bed is comfortable.
—Literary Hub, 17 Nov. 2025
The cringing mortifications and unsettling unreality make the series a tough sit.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 11 Oct. 2025
Embarrassment and mortification at best, misunderstandings and criticism at worst.
—Grace Aldridge Foster, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mortification
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mortification
Noun
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The order to whitewash America’s historic sites of anything less than rosy about the nation’s past has led to some predictable embarrassments.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
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Nectar Hard Seltzer has been partnering with influencer Kelly Kim to get people to reframe the alcohol flush reaction some people experience, to turn it into a beauty moment instead of embarrassment.—
Jeanette Hurt,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
Noun
-
The vast range of difficulty and rigor in academic assessment adds confusion for both learners and employers.—
Bryan Penprase,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
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The Holii Travel Pill Organizer is compact enough to fit in a car compartment or backpack, and securely separates daily doses of medications in order to avoid any confusion on busy travel days.—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
31 May 2026
Noun
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That humiliation against Macclesfield, 117 places below them in the pyramid, had not helped.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
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Aster has repeatedly explored high-profile humiliation and anonymous crowds who mistake vengeance for catharsis in his own directing work, making the horror filmmaker’s involvement particularly on-theme.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
27 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mortification.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mortification. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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