martyrdom
/'mɑ:tədəm/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: 1. The condition of suffering death as a penalty for refusing to renounce a religious faith or belief: The state of being killed or executed because of one's religious or other deeply held convictions. 2. Any experience that causes intense suffering or torment: A state of prolonged agony, distress, or persecution, often endured for a principle or cause.
Examples
- Noun (Religious/Principle):
- The early saints faced martyrdom for their Christian beliefs.
- He accepted martyrdom rather than betray his country's secrets.
- Noun (Intense Suffering):
- Living with the constant pain was a form of martyrdom.
- She endured the martyrdom of a long and unhappy marriage.
Advanced Usage
- "To suffer martyrdom": To undergo death or extreme suffering for a belief.
- Many historical figures are remembered for suffering martyrdom for their ideals.
- "A martyrdom complex": A psychological state where a person persistently bears suffering or sacrifices themselves, sometimes to gain sympathy or moral superiority.
- He has a martyrdom complex, always complaining about his sacrifices for the family.
Variants and Related Words
- Martyr (noun): A person who suffers death or great suffering for a faith, cause, or principle.
- She is considered a martyr for the environmental movement.
- Martyr (verb): To make a martyr of someone; to cause to suffer martyrdom.
- The regime sought to martyr its opponents to create symbols of resistance.
- Martyrize (verb): To treat someone as a martyr; to torment.
- Martyrological (adjective): Relating to martyrs or martyrdom.
Synonyms
- For death for a cause: Sacrifice, self-immolation.
- For intense suffering: Agony, torment, ordeal, anguish, persecution.
Related Idioms
- "A martyr to something": Someone who suffers greatly from a particular thing.
- He was a martyr to arthritis in his old age.
Noun
- any experience that causes intense suffering
- death that is imposed because of the person's adherence of a religious faith or cause