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Mortifying: meaning, definitions and examples

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mortifying

 

[ˈmɔːrtɪfaɪɪŋ ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Adjective

feeling

causing someone to feel extremely embarrassed, ashamed, or humiliated

Synonyms

embarrassing, humiliating, shameful.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
mortifying

Used in situations where an experience or action is extremely embarrassing or causes overwhelming shame. It often implies a deeper or more intense feeling than just embarrassment.

  • It was mortifying to trip and spill coffee all over my boss during the presentation.
  • She found it mortifying when her old diary was read out loud in front of the entire class.
embarrassing

Appropriate for general situations where something causes a person to feel awkward, uncomfortable, or self-conscious. It is less intense than 'mortifying' or 'humiliating'.

  • It was embarrassing when he realized his zipper was down during the meeting.
  • Forgetting her lines on stage was an embarrassing moment for the actress.
humiliating

Best used when an experience deeply hurts someone's dignity or pride, often with a sense of degradation or loss of respect. It can have a negative connotation.

  • Being scolded in front of his peers was a humiliating experience.
  • It was humiliating for him to admit his mistake in front of everyone.
shameful

Applied to actions or behaviors that are morally wrong or disgraceful. It often involves a sense of guilt and dishonor.

  • Lying to his friends about his achievements was a shameful act.
  • Cheating on the exam was a shameful thing to do.

Examples of usage

  • His mortifying mistake in front of the whole class made him never want to show his face again.
  • The mortifying moment when she realized she had been talking loudly on the phone in a quiet library.
Context #2 | Adjective

appearance

causing great embarrassment or shame due to one's appearance or actions

Synonyms

awkward, cringeworthy, embarrassing.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
mortifying

Use this word when describing a situation that causes extreme shame or humiliation.

  • Being caught in a lie can be mortifying
awkward

This word is best for describing situations that feel uncomfortable or in which you don't know how to act.

  • There was an awkward silence after she asked him a personal question
cringeworthy

This word fits situations that make you feel so uncomfortable or embarrassed that you physically cringe.

  • The way he tried to flirt with his boss was cringeworthy
embarrassing

Ideal for describing situations where you feel shy, uncomfortable, or foolish.

  • Tripping over your own feet in front of a crowd is pretty embarrassing

Examples of usage

  • She felt mortifyingly out of place at the formal event in her casual attire.
  • The mortifying realization that she had been walking around all day with a huge coffee stain on her shirt.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

  • The word originates from the Latin 'mortificare', which means 'to put to death', reflecting how embarrassment can feel like a death of dignity.
  • The prefix 'mort-' is related to death and dying, linking to the intense feeling of discomfort associated with embarrassing situations.

Psychology

  • Feeling mortified taps into your social fears; it often triggers a fight-or-flight response when faced with humiliation.
  • Public speaking is ranked as one of the top fears, and many people experience mortification when they stumble or make a mistake in front of others.

Pop Culture

  • In TV shows and movies, mortifying moments are often used for comedic effect, showing characters in ridiculous, embarrassing scenarios to entertain viewers.
  • Literary works often explore themes of social embarrassment, using characters' mortifying experiences to highlight their development and growth.

Education

  • In educational settings, mortifying experiences can act as teaching moments, helping students learn resilience and coping strategies for handling embarrassment.
  • Role-playing exercises in classrooms can create situations that mimic mortifying scenarios, allowing students to practice their responses.

Cultural Perspectives

  • Different cultures have varying thresholds for what causes embarrassment, influencing how individuals experience and react to mortifying situations.
  • In some cultures, maintaining honor is pivotal, making mortifying experiences feel particularly intense compared to more individualistic societies.

Translations

Translations of the word "mortifying" in other languages:

🇵🇹 mortificante

🇮🇳 अपमानजनक

🇩🇪 demütigend

🇮🇩 memalukan

🇺🇦 принизливий

🇵🇱 upokarzający

🇯🇵 屈辱的な (kutsujokuteki na)

🇫🇷 mortifiant

🇪🇸 mortificante

🇹🇷 küçük düşürücü

🇰🇷 굴욕적인 (gulyokjeogin)

🇸🇦 مذل

🇨🇿 ponižující

🇸🇰 ponižujúci

🇨🇳 令人尴尬的 (lìng rén gāngà de)

🇸🇮 ponižujoč

🇮🇸 niðurdrepandi

🇰🇿 қорлаушы

🇬🇪 მოვლენა

🇦🇿 alçaldıcı

🇲🇽 mortificante

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #25,527, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.