martyrdom

[mahr-ter-duhm] / ˈmɑr tər dəm /

NOUN

suffering endured for sake of a cause

Synonyms

STRONGEST

persecution

STRONG

affliction agony anguish crucifixion devotion distress mortification ordeal pain sacrifice self-sacrifice torment torture unselfishness

WEAK

agonizing self-immolation

Antonyms

STRONG

comfort contentment happiness health joy pleasure relief

WEAK

satisfaction

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"The wife of the martyred supreme leader is alive, and the initial reports of her martyrdom were incorrect," it said.

From Barron's • Mar. 13, 2026

Mojtaba Khamanei said in his message he had seen the late ayatollah's corpse after his "martyrdom".

From Barron's • Mar. 13, 2026

The Islamic Republic and Shia Islam are imbued with the idea of martyrdom.

From BBC • Mar. 2, 2026

Motherhood’s long association with martyrdom is a real turn-off.

From Salon • Feb. 4, 2026

Standing unprotected as I was, I felt I was living the martyrdom of Saint Sebastian.

From "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel

Vocabulary lists containing martyrdom

"Musée des Beaux Arts" by W.H. Auden

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

"Musee des Beaux Arts," Vocabulary from the poem

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

Poems 10.4

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!