as in embarrassment
the emotional state of being made self-consciously uncomfortable
the mortification of being dumped the night before the prom
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Recent Examples of mortification
Embarrassment and mortification at best, misunderstandings and criticism at worst.
—
Grace Aldridge Foster, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
But Constance offered no more in her own defense, for all her mortification.
—Jim Shepard, New Yorker, 8 June 2025
Oldman’s face, set in brooding concentration, evokes a pained, vaguely incredulous mortification, which builds to a bitter, almost paralyzing ruefulness.
—Houman Barekat, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025
Hong again employs the long table-time takes that have witnessed the mortification of so many drunken characters, this time skewering Donghwa.
—Nicolas Rapold, Deadline, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mortification
Grace Aldridge Foster, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
But Constance offered no more in her own defense, for all her mortification.
—Jim Shepard, New Yorker, 8 June 2025
Oldman’s face, set in brooding concentration, evokes a pained, vaguely incredulous mortification, which builds to a bitter, almost paralyzing ruefulness.
—Houman Barekat, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025
Hong again employs the long table-time takes that have witnessed the mortification of so many drunken characters, this time skewering Donghwa.
—Nicolas Rapold, Deadline, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mortification
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mortification
Noun
-
Well, the new strike zone and the obvious embarrassment of having a call overturned has changed how umpires call balls and strikes.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
29 Apr. 2026
-
For the annual dinner to occur at the White House itself would be a huge—okay, an even huger—embarrassment and conflict of interest.—
David A. Graham,
The Atlantic,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Invite someone in, agree on a clear next step, and follow through together so momentum builds without confusion or mixed signals.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
27 Apr. 2026
-
After shooting, there was initial confusion as to what had happened before journalists were able to reach their news outlets to report the details of what unfolded.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Abusers often employ fear, humiliation and isolation to not only limit one’s movements but to control the outside narrative.—
Marc Ramirez,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Niall, for his part, only comes to hate himself more as gay acceptance goes mainstream, his initial distress over his sexuality compounded by humiliation at being unable to get past that distress.—
Inkoo Kang,
New Yorker,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mortification.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mortification. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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