crucify

[kroo-suh-fahy]

verb (used with object)

crucified, crucifying 

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

2. to treat with gross injustice; persecute; torment; torture.

3. to subdue (passion, sin, etc.).

crucify

/ ˈkruːsɪˌfaɪ /

verb

1. to put to death by crucifixion

2. slang,  to defeat, ridicule, etc, totally

   the critics crucified his performance

3. to treat very cruelly; torment

4. to subdue (passion, lust, etc); mortify

Other Word Forms

• crucifier noun
• uncrucified adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of crucify¹

Middle English crucifien < Anglo-French, Old French crucifier < Latin crucifīgere, equivalent to Latin cruci- (stem of crux ) cross + fīgere to fix, bind fast

Word History and Origins

Origin of crucify¹

C13: from Old French crucifier, from Late Latin crucifīgere to crucify, to fasten to a cross, from Latin crux cross + fīgere to fasten

Example Sentences

He told The Sunday Times that in spite of the alleged abuse, he did not regret remaining friends with Croft and "didn't feel crucified by" the incident.

From BBC

Right-wing movies like “God’s Not Dead” conflate having to tolerate difference with outright persecution, as if merely allowing an atheist to exist undisturbed is the same as being crucified.

From Salon

Widower Reg Harris, 85, said giving up driving would "absolutely crucify" his lifestyle.

From BBC

The umbrella film is the movie that no matter what you do, even if you make s— that people don’t like, they won’t crucify you — pun intended — because you made a movie that they like.”

From Los Angeles Times

In Greece, the sky lit up with fireworks, while worshippers in Jerusalem lit candles at the church where Jesus is said to have been crucified and buried.

From BBC

Related Words

• torment