martyrdoms

Deaths for belief

Martyrdoms is the plural of martyrdom—instances of suffering or death for a cause, belief, or principle.

The word usually refers to religious persecution: The martyrdoms of early Christians are central to church history.

It extends to secular contexts where someone dies or suffers greatly for their convictions: The martyrdoms of civil rights activists inspired a movement.

religious

sacrifice

Giving up something precious

saintsCanonized religious figures
persecutionSystematic mistreatment of groups
faithTrust without proof

witness · crucifixion · burning · stoning · beheading · relics · veneration · testimony · devotion · apostles

figurative

suffering

Sustained experience of distress

ordealDifficult, painful experience
tormentSevere prolonged suffering
enduranceSustained effort capacity

self-sacrifice · victimhood · hardship · tribulation · affliction · burden · persecution · drama · exaggeration · complaining

political

revolution

Violent governmental overthrow

resistanceCapacity to withstand force
uprisingOrganized resistance to power
executionCompleting a planned task

dissidents · freedom · struggle · oppression · assassination · prisoners · conscience · cause · ideology · protest

martyrdoms

sacrifice

suffering

revolution

martyrdoms

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