MORTIFY Synonyms: 45 Similar and Opposite Words

mortify

verb

ˈmȯr-tə-ˌfī

Definition of mortify

as in to embarrass

to throw into a state of self-conscious distress was mortified by her children's atrocious manners

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of mortify Substitute in those that reverberate deeply with you, those you would be mortified to let down and elated to make proud. — Literary Hub, 6 May 2026 Just last year, the Trust for Public Land scored the city way down at 90th out of 100 cities, the kind of mortifying ranking usually occupied in other categories by Mississippi (sorry, Mississippi). — Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2026 Baby Reindeer was hardly a laugh riot, but mortifying humor is still humor and, with episodic running times in the 30-minute range, the show had a charging, unpredictable momentum. — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 21 Apr. 2026 The graduation ceremony and the reception afterward are cute and heartwarming for the grown-ups, bittersweet and mortifying for the kids, who skive off to smoke some of Ed’s high-test weed and have a little Texas Forever moment, toasting their enduring friendships. — Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 27 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for mortify

Recent Examples of Synonyms for mortify

Verb

Spreading a rumor or creating a fake account to embarrass someone can cause lasting harm.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 9 Aug. 2026
The operation has brought a fuel crisis that is embarrassing the Kremlin.

— ABC News, ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026

Definition of embarrass

Verb

The Studio Behind The Technology Annapurna Studios (not to be confused with the Megan Ellison-founded Annapurna Pictures in Hollywood) has been a cornerstone of Indian cinema for half a century.

— Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026
But there is the risk that his strategy will backfire by confusing investors.

— David Goldman, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026

Definition of confuse

Browse Nearby Words

mortifies

mortify

mortifying

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Mortify.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mortify. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of mortify

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on mortify

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

salvo

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Words of the Week - Aug. 14

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes