mortify
verb (used with object)
to humiliate or shame, as by injury to one's pride or self-respect.
was mortifying
-
past progressiveof mortify.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Listening to the European golfers plead with fans to not chuck beers at a colleague’s spouse was mortifying.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 3, 2025
To be 17-0 down after 31 minutes at home was mortifying, but the reality was that it could and should have been more.
From BBC ● Feb. 10, 2025
Putting that into words for a stranger, an adult man, this adult man, was mortifying.
From Slate ● Aug. 7, 2023
It was mortifying, but he was, of course, eager to hear what I thought and gracious.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 28, 2022
This, spoken in a cool, tranquil tone, was mortifying and baffling enough.
From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë
