martyr
/ˈmɑːtə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈmɑːrtər/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈmär-tər/ (ame, mw) · /ˈmɑː.tər/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈmɑːr.t̬ɚ/ (ame, ipa)
martyr — noun
- martyrsingular
- martyrsplural
1. someone admired for enduring terrible punishment or death rather than abandoning
someone admired for enduring terrible punishment or death rather than abandoning a religious or political belief
Early Christians honored Cyrus as a martyr after his execution.
honor + person + as a martyr
The museum tells the story of a journalist killed as a political martyr.
political martyr
After the prison fire, neighbors remembered Ayesha as a martyr for justice.
Pilgrims visited the cave where the young martyr had been buried.
文法句型
a martyr for + cause
honor + [person] + as a martyr
用法筆記
Usually appears when the suffering is tied to an openly held belief or cause. Unlike sense 3, this sense often implies death or severe persecution and carries open admiration.
常見錯誤
2. someone who keeps showing how much they suffer in order to win sympathy, especia
someone who keeps showing how much they suffer in order to win sympathy, especially when the problem is partly their own fault
When the team cleaned up, Brooke acted like a martyr for washing two cups.
act like a martyr
Xiu keeps calling herself a martyr whenever deadlines pile up.
At dinner, Aaron played the martyr because nobody praised his cooking.
Leo, stop being a martyr and ask the neighbors for help.
- complainer
focuses on voicing dissatisfaction, not on presenting oneself as noble
- self-pitier
emphasizes feeling sorry for oneself more than performing suffering in front of others
- good sport
someone who handles inconvenience without complaining
文法句型
act like + a martyr
play + the martyr
be + a martyr
用法筆記
This sense is disapproving and often appears in the patterns 'act like a martyr' or 'play the martyr'. It suggests exaggerated self-pity, not noble suffering like sense 1.
常見錯誤
3. a person who accepts major loss or pain in order to stay loyal to a principle or
a person who accepts major loss or pain in order to stay loyal to a principle or social cause
The article portrayed the lawyer as a martyr to free speech after years in prison.
martyr to + principle
Camila gave up her pension and became a martyr for labor rights.
After losing their jobs, many teachers were seen as martyrs for the housing campaign.
After Sivan lost a council seat, activists praised Sivan as a martyr for land reform.
- sacrificer
highlights giving something up, but lacks the same public admiration
- idealistic sufferer
explains the idea, though it is not a fixed everyday label like 'martyr'
- opportunist
someone who changes principles for personal advantage instead of suffering for them
文法句型
a martyr for + principle
be seen as + a martyr
a martyr to + cause
用法筆記
Broader than sense 1: death is not required here, but the loss must still be serious and tied to a principle. It is often used in political or activist writing.
常見錯誤
martyr — verb
- martyrpresent simple I / you / we / they
- martyrs3rd person singular
- martyring-ing form
- martyredpast simple
1. to put a person to death for continuing to hold a religious or political belief
to put a person to death for continuing to hold a religious or political belief
The regime martyred dozens of teachers who refused to change their faith.
active: martyr + object
Local history books say the soldiers were martyred for supporting the rebels.
passive: be martyred for + cause
The bishop feared the prisoners would be martyred if they stayed silent.
The emperor martyred the preacher after a public trial in the square.
文法句型
martyr + object
be martyred for + belief
用法筆記
Most often found in passive or historical descriptions. Unlike 'execute' or 'kill', this verb specifically says that belief or public principle is the reason for the killing.
常見錯誤
2. to cause someone severe and continuing pain or misery
to cause someone severe and continuing pain or misery
Mosquito bites martyred Pim all night at the campsite.
literary exaggeration for repeated pain
The heavy boots martyred Brooke's feet during the mountain walk.
martyr + body part
Dry winter air martyred the baby's skin until the cream arrived.
That broken desk chair has martyred my back for months.
- soothe
to make pain or distress feel less severe
文法句型
martyr + body part
be martyred by + pain
用法筆記
This sense sounds literary or deliberately strong in modern English. It is used for pain that goes on and on, not for a brief annoyance like sense 2 of the noun.