martyr
Dies for beliefs
A martyr is someone who suffers death rather than renounce a religious faith or cause.
The term extends to anyone who endures great suffering or sacrifice for a principle or belief: She became a martyr for the civil rights movement.
In everyday use, martyr often carries a negative edge, describing someone who exaggerates their suffering or seeks sympathy: He's such a martyr about doing the dishes.
To martyr someone is to put them to death for their beliefs, making them a martyr.
Canonized holy person
- canonizationOfficial declaration of sainthood
- beatificationDeclaring someone among blessed
- venerationProfound admiring respect
- relicPreserved ancient object
shrine · hagiography · apostle · blessed · patron · intercession · feast-day · stigmata
One harmed by another
- self-pityExaggerated focus on own suffering
- melodramaSensational, emotionally overwrought drama
- attention-seekingCraving others' focus
- guilt-tripManipulate via conscience
manipulation · passive-aggressive · whining · complaining · exaggeration · suffering · long-suffering
Surrendering for others' benefit
- immolationSacrificial killing, often burning
- crucifixionExecution by cross
- offeringSomething presented or given
- bloodshedKilling and wounding
atonement · redemption · oblation · renunciation · expiation · propitiation · consecration · penance
Vigorous cause champion
- dissidentOpposer of established systems
- revolutionarySeeking fundamental systemic change
- crusaderZealous advocate for change
- zealotObsessive cause supporter
ideologue · reformer · patriot · radical · protest · resistance · movement · struggle
Unjust exercise of power
- tortureDeliberate infliction of suffering
- inquisitionSustained, probing investigation
- pogromViolent persecution of minorities
- genocideSystematic annihilation of a people
gulag · tyranny · repression · witch-hunt · intolerance · discrimination · victimization · imprisonment
Fortitude facing danger
- valorCourage in danger
- braveryBoldness before danger
- fortitudeEnduring courage under pain
- fearlessnessComplete lack of dread
steadfastness · defiance · resistance · endurance · conviction · resolve · testimony · witness
saint
Canonized holy person
- canonizationOfficial declaration of sainthood
- beatificationDeclaring someone among blessed
- venerationProfound admiring respect
relic · shrine · hagiography · apostle · blessed · patron · intercession · feast-day · stigmata · holy
victim
One harmed by another
- self-pityExaggerated focus on own suffering
- melodramaSensational, emotionally overwrought drama
- attention-seekingCraving others' focus
guilt-trip · manipulation · passive-aggressive · whining · complaining · exaggeration · suffering · long-suffering
self-sacrifice
Surrendering for others' benefit
- immolationSacrificial killing, often burning
- crucifixionExecution by cross
- offeringSomething presented or given
bloodshed · atonement · redemption · oblation · renunciation · expiation · propitiation · consecration · penance · surrender
activist
Vigorous cause champion
- dissidentOpposer of established systems
- revolutionarySeeking fundamental systemic change
- crusaderZealous advocate for change
zealot · ideologue · reformer · patriot · radical · protest · resistance · movement · struggle · uprising
oppression
Unjust exercise of power
- tortureDeliberate infliction of suffering
- inquisitionSustained, probing investigation
- pogromViolent persecution of minorities
genocide · gulag · tyranny · repression · witch-hunt · intolerance · discrimination · victimization · imprisonment · exile
courage
Fortitude facing danger
fearlessness · steadfastness · defiance · resistance · endurance · conviction · resolve · testimony · witness · stand
- Abrahamic faithsJudaism, Christianity, Islam, Abraham, God
- fanaticismfanaticism, zealotry, zealot, fanatic, extremism
- holy peoplesaint, saints, prophet, holy men, holy women
- medieval churchabbeys, abbey, abbot, abbots, abbess
- Medieval Womenabbess, noblewoman, lady, queen, duchess
- sacrificeburnt offering, blood sacrifice, human sacrifice, animal sacrifice, immolation
martyrperpetrator
One who commits wrongdoing
oppressor · persecutor · executioner · tormentor · tyrant
- martyr complexSelf-perception as perpetual sufferer
- Christian martyrBeliever killed for faith
- political martyrOne slain for ideology
- Catholic martyrOne killed for Catholicism
- martyr's shrinePlace honoring religious dead
- Christian martyrdomDeath for religious faith