crucify

verb

cru·​ci·​fy ˈkrü-sə-ˌfī 

crucified; crucifying

transitive verb

1

: to put to death by nailing or binding the wrists or hands and feet to a cross

2

: to destroy the power of : mortify

crucify the flesh

3

a

: to treat cruelly : torment

b

: pillory sense 2

crucified in the press

crucifier

ˈkrü-sə-ˌfī-ər 

noun

Examples of crucify in a Sentence

They crucified her in the newspapers for having an affair.

Recent Examples on the Web

Easter commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, three days after he was crucified by Romans around 30 A.D. Easter marks the last day of the Holy Week, which consists of several days that each carry their own significance. —Marley Malenfant, Austin American-Statesman, 26 Mar. 2024

Engineering, literature, philosophy, theater, and the arts flowered; with lasting effects, Romans crucified Jesus and destroyed Jerusalem’s Second Temple. —Michael Fontaine, Foreign Affairs, 15 Feb. 2016

He was crucified on Good Friday and resurrected on Easter Sunday. —Erin Jensen, USA TODAY, 25 Nov. 2024

First glorified then crucified, Joan’s mythologized fate encapsulates the precarious role of women in society — particularly those in the limelight. —Tacita Quinn, CNN, 15 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English crucifien, from Anglo-French crucifier, from Late Latin crucifigere

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

crucify

verb

cru·​ci·​fy ˈkrü-sə-ˌfī 

crucified; crucifying

1

: to put to death by nailing or binding the hands and feet to a cross

2

: to treat cruelly : torture, persecute

were crucified in the newspapers

crucifier

-fī-ər 

noun

Etymology

Middle English crucifien "to crucify," from early French crucifier (same meaning), from Latin crucifigere "to crucify," from cruc-, crux "cross" and figere "to fasten, fix" — related to cross, crucifix, excruciating, fix