as in to embarrass
to throw into a state of self-conscious distress
was mortified by her children's atrocious manners
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Recent Examples of mortify
Outside, Ji Seon sits mortified while Yong Woo offers her water.
—
Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
One day after the Cloud 23 hot sauce CEO, 26, shared several detailed Instagram Stories about his fallout with his family, a source tells PEOPLE the couple would be mortified if footage of Victoria, 51, dancing with her son at his and Nicola’s 2022 wedding ever got out.
—Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 21 Jan. 2026
She also was mortified and wounded.
—Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 12 Jan. 2026
Ann Kerr was mortified by the behavior of her 60-year-old coaching son, for the first time in quite a while.
—Janie McCauley, Chicago Tribune, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mortify
Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
One day after the Cloud 23 hot sauce CEO, 26, shared several detailed Instagram Stories about his fallout with his family, a source tells PEOPLE the couple would be mortified if footage of Victoria, 51, dancing with her son at his and Nicola’s 2022 wedding ever got out.
—Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 21 Jan. 2026
She also was mortified and wounded.
—Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 12 Jan. 2026
Ann Kerr was mortified by the behavior of her 60-year-old coaching son, for the first time in quite a while.
—Janie McCauley, Chicago Tribune, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for mortify
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mortify
Verb
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These are embarrassing own goals that Republicans simply can’t afford.—
S.E. Cupp,
New York Daily News,
4 Mar. 2026
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Noah Silver, Boca Raton Americans may need a refresher on why Attorney General Pam Bondi continues to embarrass herself and her office.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In the fall of 2023, Yanxiao joined Tsinghua University, where his research confused professors who were accustomed to more conventional disciplinary lines.—
Chang Che,
New Yorker,
8 Mar. 2026
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But the notice sent last spring was so vague and confusing that few people used it to object.—
U T Editorial Board,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mortify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mortify. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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