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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of martyr
Kate Lindsay, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2024
Until that point, no other Afghan leader had ever martyred a son, adopted or otherwise, signifying how values were changing.
—Carter Malkasian, Foreign Affairs, 13 Sep. 2022
Youmna Melhem Chamieh, Harper's Magazine, 2 Jan. 2025
Georgescu has previously praised 1930s Romanian fascist politicians as national heroes and martyrs, has been critical of NATO and Romania’s stance on Ukraine, and has said the country should engage, not challenge Russia.
—Reuters, CNN, 28 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for martyr 
Verb
In the years since, Peanut’s various costumes and antics, including jumping through hoops and eating waffles, have earned him hundreds of thousands of Instagram followers, per Social Blade — even before he was martyred.
—Kate Lindsay, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2024
Until that point, no other Afghan leader had ever martyred a son, adopted or otherwise, signifying how values were changing.
—Carter Malkasian, Foreign Affairs, 13 Sep. 2022
Noun
The road to Baalbek was lined with placards memorializing martyrs, the deceased members of Hezbollah whose portraits are adorned with the party’s yellow flag.
—Youmna Melhem Chamieh, Harper's Magazine, 2 Jan. 2025
Georgescu has previously praised 1930s Romanian fascist politicians as national heroes and martyrs, has been critical of NATO and Romania’s stance on Ukraine, and has said the country should engage, not challenge Russia.
—Reuters, CNN, 28 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for martyr
Recent Examples of Synonyms for martyr
Verb
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When that extreme trend was pointed out to Suzuki, the Cubs hitting infrastructure worked with him to look for moments to be aggressive and attack the first pitch.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Feb. 2025
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Government officials and local civil society leaders didn't immediately comment, though Congo's Communications Ministry said the rebels had violated ceasefire agreements and attacked Congolese troops working to avoid urban warfare and violence in Bukavu.—
JUSTIN KABUMBA,
arkansasonline.com,
16 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Part of that love is to offer prayers and sacrifices for him.—
Alexandra Koch,
Fox News,
7 Feb. 2025
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The intrigue: Willingness to make sacrifices for a win seems tied to past success.—
Christine Clarridge,
Axios,
7 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Investigation:Slain transgender man Sam Nordquist was tortured for weeks, police say; 5 people arrested What was the motive behind the attack?—
Julia Gomez,
USA TODAY,
17 Feb. 2025
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For a month and a half, the men were tortured and abused.—
Lauren Green,
Fox News,
16 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Coaching hire winners and losers: In all, seven teams made leadership changes at the top.—
Jim Reineking,
USA TODAY,
18 Feb. 2025
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No more participation trophies for Bill Plaschke! Los Angeles’ lovable loser nailed it by predicting the Eagles’ big win, ending his losing tradition that envied the Benoit Benjamin Clippers of the 1980s!—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Confused Martin, the character played by Chamberlain, shows up to the motel planning to take May on a movie date but first must confront the couple’s growing tensions and tormented twisted and intertwined lives from their pasts.—
Philip Potempa,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Feb. 2025
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The 6-foot-7 Dublin center has tormented teams with his high rebounding motor and soft touch around the rim.—
Nathan Canilao,
The Mercury News,
7 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Watching, Emily grows anguished at her mother’s distraction.—
Russell Shaw,
The Atlantic,
3 Jan. 2025
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South Korean officials on Monday began the slow, painstaking process of piecing together the many body parts found in the wreckage after the country’s worst plane crash in decades, as hundreds of relatives, waiting to receive the victims’ bodies, grew more anguished by the hour.—
John Yoon,
New York Times,
30 Dec. 2024
Verb
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However, the camp also claimed the lives of many Poles, Roma, Soviet prisoners of war, LGBTQ individuals, and others persecuted under Nazi racial ideology.—
Joel Thayer,
Newsweek,
27 Jan. 2025
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Long persecuted minority The predominately Muslim Uyghurs are a distinct ethnic minority from Xinjiang, a massive, nominally autonomous region in the far west of China.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN,
22 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Also Read ‘Becoming Led Zeppelin’ Doc Soars into Wide Release Osbourne, 76, has been plagued with health problems since his last proper concerts in 2018 and is currently unable to walk.—
SPIN Staff,
SPIN,
17 Feb. 2025
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Like many police departments across the country, RPD has been plagued by a large number of unfilled positions since the pandemic and the wider cultural response to George Floyd's killing in Minneapolis.—
Zachery Eanes,
Axios,
14 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near martyr
Cite this Entry
“Martyr.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/martyr. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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