as in embarrassing
to throw into a state of self-conscious distress
was mortified by her children's atrocious manners
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in humiliating
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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 mortifying
Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2025
The mortifying moment comes at a time when international tourism continues to rebound strongly despite global uncertainty.
—Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025
What feels energizing to one person can feel mortifying to another.
—Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 30 Sep. 2025
The people who have the most money and power are the first to give up, and, frankly, that should be mortifying for them.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2025
Verb
This is not a disaster or a triumph — this is just high school as a necessary, sometimes mortifying, and occasionally meaningful part of life.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2025
The mortifying moment comes at a time when international tourism continues to rebound strongly despite global uncertainty.
—Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Sep. 2025
What feels energizing to one person can feel mortifying to another.
—Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Adjective
And that display from our fans was mortifying.
—Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 30 Sep. 2025
The people who have the most money and power are the first to give up, and, frankly, that should be mortifying for them.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mortifying
Verb
-
For French Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin, the heist spotlights embarrassing security failings at one of France’s most venerable institutions.—
Jacqui Palumbo,
CNN Money,
21 Oct. 2025
-
The New York Mets fell short of the postseason in embarrassing fashion last season, so this offseason is going to be more important than ever.—
Zach Pressnell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Adult death is always strangely humiliating but this was something more, conceptually distressing, theoretically immoderate, elaborately unkind.—
Joy Williams,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Which is the most humiliating story of all?—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
This was out of respect for me, and also to avoid confusing the children.—
Judith Martin,
Mercury News,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter is among those coaches expected to get real consideration in next year's head-coaching cycle, and his propensity for confusing young QBs is well known across the NFL.—
Max Dible,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Those listeners are the ones who are our backbone, which is very humbling.—
Erik Pedersen,
Oc Register,
17 Oct. 2025
-
This sub is routinely very humbling.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Charles Rolsky, executive director and senior research scientist at the Shaw Institute, a nonprofit focusing on the links between environmental and human health, says that many studies, including his own, suggest PVA can pass through wastewater treatment without completely degrading.—
Matt Fuchs,
Time,
29 Sep. 2025
-
The mission emphasized that detaining adolescents under such conditions amounts to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
23 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
What once was aberrant—indeed, unimaginable—is now standard Trump fare, demeaning not only to the Presidency but to the rule of law.—
Ruth Marcus,
New Yorker,
9 Oct. 2025
-
For decades, Indigenous leaders and advocates across the state and country have been trying to convince school communities that the use of such mascots and logos are inappropriate, demeaning and harmful.—
Frank Vaisvilas,
jsonline.com,
29 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mortifying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mortifying. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share