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Mortifying Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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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.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

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.

Origin of 'mortifying'

Main points about word origin

  • 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.

The word 'mortifying' originates from the verb 'mortify', which comes from the Latin word 'mortificare', meaning 'to kill'. In its original sense, 'mortify' meant 'to subdue the passions and appetites by penance or self-discipline'. Over time, the adjective 'mortifying' evolved to describe situations that cause extreme embarrassment or shame.

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.