Martyr

Quick meaning: Martyr is a noun meaning (with a prepositional phrase of cause) One who suffers greatly or constantly, even involuntarily.

Meaning

(with a prepositional phrase of cause) One who suffers greatly or constantly, even involuntarily.

More Meanings

1. (derogatory) Someone who exaggerates their pain and suffering in order to gain sympathy.
2. (transitive) To persecute.
3. (transitive) To torment; to torture.
4. One who willingly accepts being put to death or willingly accepts challenging and exposing iniquity done to oneself for adhering openly to one's religious beliefs; notably, saints canonized after red martyrdom.
5. (by extension) One who sacrifices their life, station, or something of great personal value, for the sake of principle or to sustain a cause.
6. (transitive) To make someone into a martyr by putting them to death for adhering to, or acting in accordance with, some belief, especially religious; to sacrifice on account of faith or profession.

Example Sentences

He'd been a martyr to asthma all his life.

The apostle Stephen was the first Christian martyr.

You have a great life! Stop trying to play the martyr!

Some religious and other minorities were martyred until extinction.

Word Forms

• martyrs
• martyring
• martyred

Synonyms for martyr

Depending on context, synonyms include martyrize, sufferer.

Antonyms for martyr

Common opposites include apostate, confessor.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include sufferer, martyrdom, hell, shaheed, fedayee, shahid.

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