The Complete Vocabulary Builder Workbook by BETTER WORDS R. B. Skinner

4.8

SAVE 10% TODAY

Limited Time Offer!

✔ Add 3,700 must-know words to your vocabulary.
✔ All-in-one: dictionary, thesaurus, & workbook.

✔ 632 pages, 147 lessons, 428 practical activities.

✔ Suitable for students & professionals of all ages.

Buy on Amazon

Amazon Best Seller:

#1 Spelling & Vocabulary.

#1 Education TOEFL & TOEIC.

#1 Slang & Idiom Reference Books.

Transform Your Vocabulary!

mortified

adjective

/ˈmɔr təˌfaɪd/

IPA:

Dictionary definition of mortified

Extreme embarrassment, shame, or humiliation.
"She was mortified when she realized she had accidentally sent the email to the wrong recipient."

Detailed meaning of mortified

When someone feels mortified, they are overcome with a deep sense of distress and self-consciousness due to a particular event, action, or circumstance. It is a state of being utterly mortified, where one's pride and dignity have been greatly wounded. The feeling of mortification often arises when one has made a significant mistake, committed a social faux pas, or been subjected to public scrutiny or criticism. The individual may feel a burning sensation, a sense of intense discomfort, or an overwhelming desire to disappear from the situation. The emotion of mortification can be so intense that it leaves a lasting impact on a person's self-esteem and may even influence their behavior and interactions in the future.

Example sentences containing mortified

1. Tom's face turned beet red as he listened to his own voice crack during the important presentation, leaving him utterly mortified.
2. Sarah felt mortified when she tripped and fell in front of a crowded room, causing everyone to burst into laughter.
3. The actor was mortified when he forgot his lines on stage and had to improvise in front of the entire audience.
4. Jenny was mortified when she discovered her dress had a huge coffee stain right before her job interview.
5. John felt mortified when he discovered his fly was open during the entire business meeting.
6. The teenager was mortified when her mother showed her embarrassing baby pictures to her new friends.

History and etymology of mortified

The adjective 'mortified' has its etymological origins in Latin, specifically from the word 'mortificare,' which is a combination of 'mors' (meaning 'death') and 'facere' (meaning 'to make' or 'to do'). Originally, 'mortify' meant 'to kill' or 'to destroy,' and it was used in a religious and spiritual context to describe the act of suppressing or subduing one's worldly desires or sinful impulses. Over time, the word evolved to encompass the idea of extreme embarrassment, shame, or humiliation, often associated with feeling as if one's social reputation or self-esteem has been 'killed' or damaged. The etymology of 'mortified' underscores the historical connection between the suppression of desires and the feelings of intense embarrassment or shame, highlighting the emotional impact of such experiences on an individual.

Quiz: Find the meaning of the adjective mortified:

answer1

answer2

answer3

answer4

Try Again!

Correct!

Continue Quiz

Further usage examples of mortified

1. Jack was mortified when he realized he had accidentally liked his ex's social media post from two years ago.
2. Lisa felt mortified when she accidentally called her teacher "mom" in front of the entire class.
3. James was mortified when he realized he had been pronouncing his colleague's name wrong for months.
4. Rachel was mortified when she slipped and fell on the dance floor, causing everyone to stop and stare.
5. Mark felt mortified when he realized he had been talking loudly on his phone in a quiet library.
6. She felt mortified when her speech was full of errors.
7. His awkward dance moves left him utterly mortified.
8. I was mortified when I realized I had spinach in my teeth.
9. Her mortified expression showed she regretted her words.
10. He was mortified by the public rejection of his proposal.
11. The mispronunciation of her name left her mortified.
12. The embarrassing moment left him mortified for weeks.
13. I was mortified when I accidentally spilled my drink.
14. She turned bright red, utterly mortified by the situation.
15. The unexpected fall in front of everyone left her mortified.
16. His mortified reaction to the joke was priceless.
17. I felt mortified when I forgot her birthday.
18. She was mortified by the wardrobe malfunction on stage.
19. His email reply was so rude; I'm mortified on his behalf.
20. The mortified look on her face said it all.
21. The embarrassing mix-up left him feeling mortified.
22. He was mortified by his sudden outburst of anger.
23. The wrong answer in class made her mortified.
24. His mortified apology couldn't undo the damage.
25. She was mortified when her secret was accidentally revealed.