mortification
Shame beyond blushing
Mortification is deep humiliation or shame—the feeling of wanting to disappear after an embarrassing moment: Her mortification was complete when she realized she'd been talking to the wrong person for ten minutes.
In religious contexts, mortification means the deliberate suppression of bodily desires through fasting, self-denial, or physical discipline.
In medicine, mortification is an old term for gangrene—the death of tissue.
Decline in condition
- abasementState of being lowered
- indignityHumiliating or degrading treatment
- disgraceLoss of honor
- dishonorLoss of respect
belittlement · ridicule · scorn · contempt · derision · mockery · insult · disparagement
Moral self-reproach
- remorseGuilt for wrongdoing
- self-reproachBlaming oneself for wrongdoing
- contritionRemorseful state over misdeeds
- compunctionUneasiness from guilt
shamefacedness · disgrace · dishonor · penitence · regret · conscience · self-blame · self-condemnation
Facial reddening from emotion
- red-facedShowing visible embarrassment
- chagrinDistress from wounded pride
- discomfitureUneasy self-conscious distress
- sheepishnessTimid embarrassment after wrongdoing
self-consciousness · awkwardness · fluster · abashment · discomfort · faux pas · gaffe · cringe
Self-mortification for wrongdoing
- atonementCompensation for wrongdoing
- flagellationBeating with a whip
- hairshirtGarment worn for penance
- sackclothCoarse fabric for penance
scourge · self-flagellation · fasting · expiation · contrition · confession · absolution · mea culpa
Restraining one's own desires
- abstinenceVoluntary forgoing of indulgences
- asceticismSevere self-denial practice
- austerityEnforced economic stringency
- chastityAbstaining from sexual activity
celibacy · renunciation · self-discipline · temperance · restraint · frugality · monasticism · sacrifice
Localized cell death
- gangreneTissue death from bloodlessness
- decayGradual organic breakdown
- tissue deathCells ceasing to function
- decompositionBreakdown into simpler parts
degradation
Decline in condition
dishonor · belittlement · ridicule · scorn · contempt · derision · mockery · insult · disparagement · reproach
guilt
Moral self-reproach
- remorseGuilt for wrongdoing
- self-reproachBlaming oneself for wrongdoing
- contritionRemorseful state over misdeeds
compunction · shamefacedness · disgrace · dishonor · penitence · regret · conscience · self-blame · self-condemnation · unworthiness
blush
Facial reddening from emotion
- red-facedShowing visible embarrassment
- chagrinDistress from wounded pride
- discomfitureUneasy self-conscious distress
sheepishness · self-consciousness · awkwardness · fluster · abashment · discomfort · faux pas · gaffe · cringe · humbling
penance
Self-mortification for wrongdoing
- atonementCompensation for wrongdoing
- flagellationBeating with a whip
- hairshirtGarment worn for penance
sackcloth · scourge · self-flagellation · fasting · expiation · contrition · confession · absolution · mea culpa · penitential
self-denial
Restraining one's own desires
- abstinenceVoluntary forgoing of indulgences
- asceticismSevere self-denial practice
- austerityEnforced economic stringency
chastity · celibacy · renunciation · self-discipline · temperance · restraint · frugality · monasticism · sacrifice · simplicity
necrosis
Localized cell death
- gangreneTissue death from bloodlessness
- decayGradual organic breakdown
- tissue deathCells ceasing to function
decomposition · putrefaction · devitalization · sepsis · sloughing
- emotionsjoy, anger, fear, sadness, love
- decayrot, decay rate, wilt, crumble, decomposition
- humiliationashamed, abasement, embarrassed, chagrin, degradation
- alchemyalchemy, alchemist, philosopher's stone, transmutation, elixir
- monastic lifecelibacy, cloister, habit, vespers, obedience
- monasticismabbeys, abbey, abbots, abbot, cloister
mortificationpride
Satisfaction from one's achievements
triumph · exaltation · poise · composure · aplomb
mortificationhonor
High regard, moral dignity
glory · esteem · respect · acclaim · admiration
mortificationindulgence
Yielding to desire
self-indulgence · gratification · hedonism · licentiousness · dissipation