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
Mr Holliday used to really embarrass me because I would play with the boys and girls in school and he would tell all the boys to pass to me, but that was mortifying for me.
From BBC ● Sep. 20, 2025
It was mortifying, but he was, of course, eager to hear what I thought and gracious.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 28, 2022
"It really was mortifying having my grades read out over a military radio with a whole bunch of soldiers listening in," Prince William said.
From Reuters ● Mar. 22, 2022
This, spoken in a cool, tranquil tone, was mortifying and baffling enough.
From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë
