mortify
gb/mˈɔɹtɪfˌaɪ/ us/mˈɔɹtɪfˌaɪ/
B2
English
megszégyenít, zavarba hoz, megfékez, elfojt, elhalást okoz, nekrotizál
VERB
B2
FORMAL
1
megszégyenít
C1
zavarba hoz
B2
Usage pattern:
mortify [someone]; be mortified (at/by/about [something]; to + verb)
I was mortified when I realized I’d emailed the complaint to my boss by mistake.
Szörnyen szégyelltem magam, amikor rájöttem, hogy tévedésből a főnökömnek küldtem el e-mailben a panaszt.
He mortified her by telling the story in front of the whole team.
Megsértette és megszégyenítette azzal, hogy az egész csapat előtt elmesélte a történetet.
She was mortified at how loudly her phone rang during the ceremony.
Learner examples
I was mortified when I forgot his name.
Szörnyen zavarba jöttem, amikor elfelejtettem a nevét.
That mistake mortified me.
Az a hiba borzasztóan zavarba hozott.
Common mistake:
Learners often use it as a mild synonym of “embarrass”; in modern English it usually suggests strong embarrassment or humiliation.
Meaning
embarrass or humiliate deeply
Collocations
be mortified
|mortified at/by
|mortified to hear/learn/say
|absolutely mortified
|genuinely mortified
|mortified by the mistake
|mortified in front of everyone
|mortifying mistake
|mortifying experience
|mortify someone publicly
Synonyms
humiliate (Often implies loss of dignity in front of others.)
|
shame (Focuses on making someone feel guilty or embarrassed.)
|
embarrass (Usually weaker and more everyday than “mortify.”)
Antonyms
reassure (Helps someone feel less embarrassed or worried.)
|
flatter (Makes someone feel pleased or proud rather than ashamed.)
Themes
emotions
|social
|communication
Definition
To make someone feel very embarrassed or ashamed.
To make someone feel extremely embarrassed, ashamed, or humiliated.
VERB
C1
FORMAL
2
Usage pattern:
mortify [a desire/impulse/passion]
He tried to mortify his anger and speak calmly.
Megpróbálta megfékezni a dühét, és nyugodtan beszélni.
She learned to mortify her impulse to check her phone every few minutes.
Megtanulta megfékezni azt a késztetését, hogy néhány percenként megnézze a telefonját.
The monk sought to mortify worldly desires through a simple lifestyle.
Learner examples
He tried to mortify his desire to complain.
Megpróbálta megfékezni a késztetését, hogy panaszkodjon.
Common mistake:
This sense is about controlling impulses, not about feeling embarrassed.
Meaning
subdue desires or feelings
Collocations
mortify your desires
|mortify the passions
|mortify an impulse
|mortify the ego
|mortify ambition
|mortify pride
|mortify the appetite
Synonyms
suppress (Emphasizes pushing a feeling down so it is not shown.)
|
curb (Often used for limiting behavior or appetite.)
|
discipline (Highlights training yourself to control impulses.)
Antonyms
indulge (To allow yourself to satisfy a desire rather than restrain it.)
|
give in to (To stop resisting an impulse or temptation.)
Themes
emotions
|behavior
|self_control
Definition
To control a strong desire by discipline.
To control, weaken, or suppress a desire, impulse, or feeling, often through self-discipline.
VERB
C2
TECHNICAL
3
nekrotizál
C2
Usage pattern:
mortify [tissue/limb]
Untreated infection can mortify the surrounding tissue.
A kezeletlen fertőzés elhalást okozhat a környező szövetekben.
In severe cases, the lack of blood flow may mortify the toe.
Súlyos esetekben a vérellátás hiánya elhalást okozhat a lábujj szöveteiben.
The doctor explained that the tissue had begun to mortify.
Common mistake:
This medical sense is unrelated to embarrassment; it is rare outside medical contexts.
Meaning
cause tissue to die
Collocations
mortified tissue
|mortify a limb
|mortify the skin
|mortify the wound
|risk of mortifying
Synonyms
necrose (The standard medical verb for tissue death.)
|
gangrene (Often refers to tissue death with decay and infection.)
Antonyms
heal (To recover rather than die or decay.)
Themes
health
|medicine
Definition
To make body tissue die (medical use).
To cause part of the body’s tissue to die or decay, especially through loss of blood supply or infection.
Grammar
Dictionary form
mortify
IPA
GB/mˈɔɹtɪfˌaɪ/
US/mˈɔɹtɪfˌaɪ/
Syllables & stress
mor - ti - fy (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (mor)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: mortify
- 3rd Person Singular: mortifies
- Present Participle: mortifying
- Past: mortified
Word family
Forms
mortifies
verb
mortifying
verb
mortified
verb
Core family
mortification
noun
Advanced or less common
mortifyingly
adverb
Expressions
be mortified
1/bˈi mˈɔɹtɪfˌaɪd/
fixed phrase
formal
feel extremely embarrassed
To feel very embarrassed or ashamed.
Examples
- She was mortified when she realized everyone could hear her.
- I was mortified at the typo on the first slide.
- They were mortified to find out they’d been sitting in the wrong seats.
Learner examples
- I was mortified at my mistake.
mortified to hear/learn/say
1/mˈɔɹtɪfˌaɪd tə hˈiɹlˈɛɹnsˈeɪ/
fixed phrase
formal
apologetic: very sorry to say
A formal way to say you feel very sorry and embarrassed.
Examples
- We were mortified to learn that the data had been shared with the wrong client.
- I’m mortified to say I completely forgot our meeting.
- She was mortified to hear that her comment had upset him.
mortify the flesh
1/mˈɔɹtɪfˌaɪ ðə flˈɛʃ/
fixed phrase
literary
deny physical pleasures
To avoid pleasures to control desire (often religious).
Examples
- During Lent, some people fast to mortify the flesh.
- The text praises those who mortify the flesh to strengthen their faith.
mortify your desires
1/mˈɔɹtɪfˌaɪ jˈʊɹ dɪzˈaɪɚz/
fixed phrase
formal
control strong wants
To stop yourself from wanting or doing something strongly.
Examples
- He tried to mortify his desires and focus on his studies.
- The program teaches people to mortify unhealthy cravings instead of acting on them.