as in to attack
to kill (someone) for refusing to give up a belief or cause
—usually used as (be) martyred
He was martyred for his religious beliefs.
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of martyr
Antoinette Radford, CNN, 9 Aug. 2024
It’s located near the site where Joan of Arc was martyred in the 15th century.
—Ella Feldman, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 July 2024
Saleen Martin, USA TODAY, 31 Oct. 2024
In some corners of the GOP, those in jails or prisons for actions related to Jan. 6—including those who attacked law enforcement with weapons—are martyrs to a rigged political system.
—Philip Elliott, TIME, 29 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for martyr 
Verb
Their mother was martyred and so was their brother.
—Antoinette Radford, CNN, 9 Aug. 2024
It’s located near the site where Joan of Arc was martyred in the 15th century.
—Ella Feldman, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 July 2024
Noun
The pope then dedicated the Pantheon to Mary, the Blessed Mother and martyrs.
—Saleen Martin, USA TODAY, 31 Oct. 2024
In some corners of the GOP, those in jails or prisons for actions related to Jan. 6—including those who attacked law enforcement with weapons—are martyrs to a rigged political system.
—Philip Elliott, TIME, 29 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for martyr
Recent Examples of Synonyms for martyr
Verb
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Just two years prior, the NFL team had shelled out more than $1.4 million trying to get Becker elected mayor, and another roughly $1 million attacking Mayor Lisa Gillmor.Grace Hase, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024
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An investigation from DePaul University and the Chicago Police Department is underway after two Jewish students who were visibly showing their support for Israel were attacked on the university’s Lincoln Park campus.NBC Chicago, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2024
Noun
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It’s taken a lot of sacrifice on many fronts to be my best self.Curtis Odom, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
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The focus must remain on Officer Martinez, his loved ones, and the CPD as our city continues to honor his ultimate sacrifice and legacy of service.Mollie Markowitz, Fox News, 18 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Like any good network soap, Grey’s loves to torture us with exaggerated teaser clips.Laura Bradley, Vulture, 15 Nov. 2024
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If the director can’t or won’t, there’s no need to torture yourself for work.R. Eric Thomas, The Mercury News, 4 Nov. 2024
Noun
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When Louie led high diamonds, hoping to pitch his club loser, West ruffed the third diamond and led a club to East.Frank Stewart, The Mercury News, 12 Nov. 2024
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Trump had a domineering, workaholic father who split the world into two groups: killers and losers.Alex Thompson, Axios, 1 Nov. 2024
Verb
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In theaters, Hugh Grant torments and tortures two young Mormon women in Heretic, Judy Greer stars in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, and Barry Keoghan plays a young dad in Bird.Gerrad Hall, EW.com, 4 Nov. 2024
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And one more day is one more opportunity to stop Bowser from tormenting me for trying to snooze.Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2024
Verb
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Trump has won voters who once voted for FDR, and Democrats will anguish over how to get them back without alienating the other parts of their coalition, including women, young people and people of color.Paul Rogers, The Mercury News, 5 Nov. 2024
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So we’re anguished to see the GOP, the only viable alternative party to the Democratic Party, make this its final pitch.The Editorial Board, Orange County Register, 29 Oct. 2024
Verb
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Christians represent a large and powerful majority of the U.S. population, making any claims that Christians are being persecuted in this country laughable.Donovan McAbee, TIME, 28 Oct. 2024
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Additionally, some immigrants, even those convicted of serious crimes, can have their deportation deferred if immigration judges determine they would likely be tortured or persecuted in their home countries.Camilo Montoya-Galvez, CBS News, 30 Sep. 2024
Verb
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The areas of the city near Sycamore Drive, Mahogany Way, Peppertree Way, and L Street have been plagued with violence over the past three months.Hema Sivanandam, The Mercury News, 14 Nov. 2024
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And Sebastian Hady can be the hero in the papers: the guy who turned the lights back on in Crown Point and ended the drug war that’s plagued Gotham for decades.Andy Andersen, Vulture, 10 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near martyr
Cite this Entry
“Martyr.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/martyr. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
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