martyrdom

noun

mar·​tyr·​dom ˈmär-tər-dəm How to pronounce martyrdom (audio)
Synonyms of martyrdom
1
: the suffering of death on account of adherence to a cause and especially to one's religious faith
… defended moral truth even to the point of enduring martyrdom …—Andrew Sullivan
2
: affliction, torture

Examples of martyrdom in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Alluding to the attack only in the title, Anedda notes a few events showing the effects, patterns and tasks of an illustrator, the men seeking martyrdom, as well as the earthworms, gnats and the snail working the soil. — Wallis Wilde-Menozzi, Literary Hub, 27 Aug. 2026 More than mourning For most Shiites, Husayn’s martyrdom is more than a historical tragedy. — Iqbal Akhtar, The Conversation, 31 July 2026 Worner said the notion of a miracle — independent of martyrdom— is twofold. — Vivian Wilson, Twin Cities, 8 July 2026 At the funeral procession for Iran’s slain Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, many mourners are waving a red and white flag which symbolizes martyrdom and revenge in the Shia Muslim tradition. — Xiaoqian Lin, CNN Money, 6 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for martyrdom

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of martyrdom was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

martyr
martyrdom
martyress
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Martyrdom.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/martyrdom. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

martyrdom

noun
mar·​tyr·​dom ˈmärt-ərd-əm How to pronounce martyrdom (audio)
1
: the sufferings and death of a martyr
2
: torment entry 1 sense 1

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