Word
martyrdom
Phoneticsmar·tyr·dom
US/ˈmɑɹtɝdəm/
UK/mˈɑːtɪədəm/
Definitions
01dying for a cause
n. the death or suffering of someone who refuses to give up their religious or political beliefs.
n. the death or suffering of a martyr, specifically on account of adherence to a faith, cause, or principle.
“The history books tell stories of his martyrdom for the sake of his country.”
“The saint's martyrdom became a powerful symbol of resistance, inspiring generations of followers to maintain their faith despite state persecution.”
Formal
Synonyms
02extreme suffering
n. a state of great pain or suffering that lasts for a long time.
n. a state of extreme suffering, affliction, or torment, often endured over a prolonged period.
“Living with such a painful illness was a slow martyrdom for the old man.”
“The poet described his years in exile as a psychological martyrdom, characterized by profound isolation and the loss of his creative voice.”
Literary
03acting like a victim
n. the behavior of someone who exaggerates their suffering to get sympathy from others.
n. a performative or exaggerated display of suffering intended to elicit sympathy or admiration from others.
“We all got tired of her constant martyrdom whenever she had to do the dishes.”
“His constant air of martyrdom was exhausting for his colleagues, who felt he intentionally took on extra work just to complain about it later.”
Informal
Usage
Often used with the verb 'to play' as in 'playing the martyr'.
Teaching tip
In modern conversation, this sense is often used critically to describe someone who complains about their hard work to make others feel guilty.
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“Khadiga Metwally, it was all Canada’s fault that her psycho son had designs on Islamic State-style martyrdom in New York City.” “In his claim Campanale said that at a meeting in January 2022, he was questioned about his Christianity by about 30 people and asked whether he was enjoying his “martyrdom just like Jesus did”.” Etymology
From Middle English martyrdome, martirdom, marterdom, from Old English martyrdōm (“martyrdom”), corresponding to martyr + -dom. Cognate with German Märtyrertum (“martyrdom”), Danish martyrdom (“martyrdom”), Swedish martyrdom (“martyrdom”), Norwegian martyrdom (“martyrdom”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
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