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 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
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
See All Example Sentences for mortification
Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 11 Oct. 2025
Embarrassment and mortification at best, misunderstandings and criticism at worst.
—Grace Aldridge Foster, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for mortification
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mortification
Noun
-
Under Ross, that streak is now 25 years, longest in the NFL — a plain embarrassment for the only franchise (still) to have a Perfect Season.—
Greg Cote
May 7,
Miami Herald,
7 May 2026
-
Of those 19 games, eight of them have been the lowest home attendance marks in club history for a franchise coming off three consecutive 100-loss seasons, including a historic 119-defeat embarrassment in 2025.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
As Mars pushes against Jupiter, doing too much creates confusion.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
4 May 2026
-
But in the confusion and shock of the shutdown, few travelers appeared to notice, or make use of, the offers.—
Gloria Pazmino,
CNN Money,
2 May 2026
Noun
-
Not long into their humiliation of the Hawks, Jalen Brunson sprawled out for a loose ball.—
Matt Moret,
New York Times,
7 May 2026
-
Yet, Hendry voiced no sympathy for Brown’s false arrest, humiliation and psychological trauma.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mortification.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mortification. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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