martyr

3 synonyms and 2 antonyms for martyr, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — A person who is killed or made to suffer greatly because of their beliefs, especially religious or political ones.

Synonyms

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

sufferer martyrize martyrise

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

A person who is killed or made to suffer greatly because of their beliefs, especially religious or political ones.

“The statue honors martyrs who died for the cause of independence.”

sufferer martyrize

Opposites

apostate confessor

2. verb

To kill or persecute someone for their beliefs, or to sacrifice oneself for a cause.

“He was martyred for refusing to recant his views.”

martyrize martyrise

How to use martyr

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

die a martyr play the martyr martyr's death

Etymology

From Greek martys, meaning "witness" — someone who bears witness to their faith through suffering or death.

Full origin of martyr →

Frequently asked questions

What does “martyr” mean?

The word “martyr” means a person who is killed or made to suffer greatly because of their beliefs, especially religious or political ones. In plain terms, someone who suffers or dies for a belief or cause — or, informally, someone who acts like they're suffering to get sympathy.

How do you pronounce “martyr”?

“Martyr” is pronounced MAH-tuh (/ˈmɑɹ.tɚ/ in IPA).

How do you use “martyr” in a sentence?

Here is “martyr” used in a sentence: “The statue honors martyrs who died for the cause of independence.”

What is another word for “martyr”?

Words with a similar meaning to “martyr” include martyrize.

What is the opposite of “martyr”?

The opposite of “martyr” — its antonyms — are apostate and confessor.

What part of speech is “martyr”?

Depending on how it is used, “martyr” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “martyr” come from?

The word “martyr” comes from Greek. From Greek martys, meaning "witness" — someone who bears witness to their faith through suffering or death.

Is “martyr” a common word?

“Martyr” is an uncommon word in modern English.

People also searched

martyrize apostate confessor sufferer

Nearby words

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