martyrnoun/ˈmɐːtə(ɹ)/

• 1

  One who willingly accepts being put to death or willingly accepts challenging and exposing iniquity done to oneself for adhering openly to one's religious beliefs; notably, saints canonized after red martyrdom.

  • The apostle Stephen was the first Christian martyr.
  • Fr. Felipe Císcar Puig was a Valencian priest who is also also considered a martyr of the sacramental seal because he was martyred after keeping confessions secret during the religious persecution of the Spanish Civil War.
• 2

  One who sacrifices their life, station, or something of great personal value, for the sake of principle or to sustain a cause.

• 3

  One who suffers greatly or constantly, even involuntarily.

  • Stan is a martyr to arthritis, Chris is a martyr to Stan's endless moaning about it.
  • He'd been a martyr to asthma all his life.
• 4

  derogatorySomeone who exaggerates their pain and suffering in order to gain sympathy.

  • You have a great life! Stop trying to play the martyr!

martyrverb/ˈmɐːtə(ɹ)/

• 1

  To make someone into a martyr by putting them to death for adhering to, or acting in accordance with, some belief, especially religious; to sacrifice on account of faith or profession.

  • Fr. Felipe Císcar Puig was a Valencian priest who is also also considered a martyr of the sacramental seal because he was martyred after keeping confessions secret during the religious persecution of the Spanish Civil War.
• 2

  To persecute.

  • Some religious and other minorities were martyred until extinction.
• 3

  To torment; to torture.

  • Hark, wretches, how I mean to martyr you. This one hand yet is left to cut your throats, Whiles that Lavinia ’tween her stumps doth hold The basin that receives your guilty blood.
  • […]The louely Amoret, whoſe gentle hart Thou martyreſt with ſorow and with ſmart,[…]