martyr
UK: ˈmɑːtə(r) | US: ˈmɑːrtər
n. a person who is killed or suffers greatly for their religious or other beliefs
n. a person who exaggerates their suffering to gain sympathy
vt. to kill or persecute someone for their beliefs
The word "martyr" traces back to Greek martys, which initially referred to a legal witness. In early Christian contexts, it evolved to denote those who bore witness to their faith through suffering or death. The term entered Old English via Latin martyr and retained its religious connotation, later broadening to include secular sacrifices. The morpheme mart- preserves the core idea of testimony, while -yr marks the actor.
Many early Christians became martyrs for refusing to renounce their faith.
She was martyred for speaking out against the oppressive regime.
He plays the martyr whenever asked to help with chores.
The memorial honors the martyrs of the civil rights movement.
Stop martyring yourself—no one forced you to take on extra work.