mortify

verb

mor·ti·fy ˈmȯr-tə-ˌfī How to pronounce mortify (audio)

mortified; mortifying

transitive verb

: to subject to severe and vexing embarrassment : shame

was no longer mortified by comparisons between her sisters' beauty and her own

Jane Austen

: to subdue or deaden (the body, bodily appetites, etc.) especially by abstinence or self-inflicted pain or discomfort

mortified his body for spiritual purification

obsolete : to destroy the strength, vitality, or functioning of

intransitive verb

: to practice mortification

: to become necrotic or gangrenous

treated his wound so that it would not mortify

Did you know?

The Deadly History of Mortify

Mortify once actually meant "put to death", but no longer. Its "deaden" sense is most familiar to us in the phrase "mortifying the flesh", which refers to a custom once followed by devout Christians, who would starve themselves, deprive themselves of every comfort, and even whip themselves in order to subdue their bodily desires and punish themselves for their sins. But the most common use of mortify today is the "humiliate" sense; its connection with death is still apparent when we speak of "dying of embarrassment".

Example Sentences

It mortified me to have to admit that I'd never actually read the book. was mortified by her children's atrocious manners

Recent Examples on the Web Combining meticulous scholarship with chilling storytelling, her book should mortify any reader who still doubts that America was in many ways built on a foundation of white supremacy and black oppression.

Harold Holzer, WSJ, 21 Mar. 2021 Sometimes someone would burst in without knocking, and I’d be mortified at having to spit out what had accumulated before conversation could begin.

Alexandra Jacobs, New York Times, 20 Jan. 2020 Being stalked by an invisible enemy surely mortifies those with an obsessive-compulsive fear of germs, and deepens the distress of many who have experienced waves of uncontrollable anxiety before the epidemic.

Benedict Carey, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2020 Viewers of the Hulu drama were mortified at Elena's behavior throughout the episode, shocked that the woman could behave so terribly without a shred of remorse.

Ineye Komonibo, refinery29.com, 16 Apr. 2020 Jane’s skill at Mozart’s Sonata in F shocks and amuses but isn’t pleasing enough in the film to mortify us on Emma’s account.

The Conversation, 27 Mar. 2020 Environmental groups that fended off oil rigs in the Arctic Refuge for four decades were mortified.

Dan Joling, Anchorage Daily News, 27 Oct. 2019 Environmental groups that fended off oil rigs in the Arctic Refuge for four decades were mortified.

Dan Joling, Anchorage Daily News, 27 Oct. 2019 In the aftermath, Emira, mortified, resolves to find a new job, while the well-meaning but delusional mom-blogger who employs her becomes obsessed with winning her affection and loyalty.

Elizabeth C. Gorski, The New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2020 See More

单词	mortifies
释义	mortify verb mor·ti·fy ˈmȯr-tə-ˌfī mortified; mortifying transitive verb 1 : to subject to severe and vexing embarrassment : shame was no longer mortified by comparisons between her sisters' beauty and her own Jane Austen 2 : to subdue or deaden (the body, bodily appetites, etc.) especially by abstinence or self-inflicted pain or discomfort mortified his body for spiritual purification 3 obsolete : to destroy the strength, vitality, or functioning of intransitive verb 1 : to practice mortification 2 : to become necrotic or gangrenous treated his wound so that it would not mortify Did you know? The Deadly History of Mortify Mortify once actually meant "put to death", but no longer. Its "deaden" sense is most familiar to us in the phrase "mortifying the flesh", which refers to a custom once followed by devout Christians, who would starve themselves, deprive themselves of every comfort, and even whip themselves in order to subdue their bodily desires and punish themselves for their sins. But the most common use of mortify today is the "humiliate" sense; its connection with death is still apparent when we speak of "dying of embarrassment". Synonyms abash confound confuse discomfit disconcert discountenance embarrass faze fluster nonplus rattle See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences It mortified me to have to admit that I'd never actually read the book. was mortified by her children's atrocious manners Recent Examples on the Web Combining meticulous scholarship with chilling storytelling, her book should mortify any reader who still doubts that America was in many ways built on a foundation of white supremacy and black oppression. Harold Holzer, WSJ, 21 Mar. 2021 Sometimes someone would burst in without knocking, and I’d be mortified at having to spit out what had accumulated before conversation could begin. Alexandra Jacobs, New York Times, 20 Jan. 2020 Being stalked by an invisible enemy surely mortifies those with an obsessive-compulsive fear of germs, and deepens the distress of many who have experienced waves of uncontrollable anxiety before the epidemic. Benedict Carey, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2020 Viewers of the Hulu drama were mortified at Elena's behavior throughout the episode, shocked that the woman could behave so terribly without a shred of remorse. Ineye Komonibo, refinery29.com, 16 Apr. 2020 Jane’s skill at Mozart’s Sonata in F shocks and amuses but isn’t pleasing enough in the film to mortify us on Emma’s account. The Conversation, 27 Mar. 2020 Environmental groups that fended off oil rigs in the Arctic Refuge for four decades were mortified. Dan Joling, Anchorage Daily News, 27 Oct. 2019 Environmental groups that fended off oil rigs in the Arctic Refuge for four decades were mortified. Dan Joling, Anchorage Daily News, 27 Oct. 2019 In the aftermath, Emira, mortified, resolves to find a new job, while the well-meaning but delusional mom-blogger who employs her becomes obsessed with winning her affection and loyalty. Elizabeth C. Gorski, The New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2020 See More Word History Etymology Middle English mortifien, from Anglo-French mortifier, from Late Latin mortificare, from Latin mort-, mors First Known Use 14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 3 Kids Definition mortify verb mor·ti·fy ˈmȯr-tə-ˌfī mortified; mortifying : to embarrass greatly I ought to have read more, for I find I don't know anything, and it mortifies me. Louisa May Alcott, Little Women Medical Definition mortify intransitive verb mor·ti·fy ˈmȯrt-ə-ˌfī mortified; mortifying : to become necrotic or gangrenous mortifies verb present tense third-person singular of mortify as in embarrasses to throw into a state of self-conscious distress was mortified by her children's atrocious manners Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance embarrasses confuses flusters disconcerts bothers disturbs rattles humiliates discomfits unsettles upsets fazes distresses disquiets confounds abashes nonplusses discountenances dismays perturbs shames agitates nonpluses unhinges humbles discomforts demeans debases chagrins degrades discomposes puts off queers puts out Antonyms & Near Antonyms relieves soothes comforts calms encourages cheers consoles assures reassures heartens emboldens buoys See More
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mortify

verb

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Kids Definition

verb

Medical Definition

intransitive verb

verb