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

1. any experience that causes intense suffering
2. death that is imposed because of the person's adherence of a religious faith or cause