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 
Example Sentences
They crucified her in the newspapers for having an affair.
Recent Examples on the Web There was a notorious TV report around 2014: a story of how Ukrainians crucify a Russian boy. 
New York Times, 1 Apr. 2022 Nazaryan seemingly was trying to crucify the author rather than giving a solid review of the book. Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2021 Jesus is then crucified (nailed to a cross alive), the death of a common criminal. National Geographic, 9 Apr. 2020 The crosses have three beams, the lowest one slanted from left to right to symbolize the different attitudes of the two thieves who were crucified with Jesus Christ. oregonlive, 9 May 2020 The land is ruled by King Uther Pendragon, who allows fanatical Red Paladins to roam the land crucifying villages of people as heretics. Christian Holub, EW.com, 7 May 2020 Anyone who did cross the line ended up getting crucified. Hayes Gardner, The Courier-Journal, 23 Apr. 2020 Folmar’s evaluation of the problem doesn’t account for socioeconomic variables or addiction being a medical condition, but focuses on crucifying the dealers and reduces the problem to a personal decision that must be condemned. Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 3 Apr. 2020 Michael Scott gets crucified: Writer Aaron Schure pitched an idea where Michael's shirt got caught in a garage door while playing basketball. Hannah Yasharoff, USA TODAY, 24 Mar. 2020 See More
New York Times, 1 Apr. 2022 Nazaryan seemingly was trying to crucify the author rather than giving a solid review of the book. Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2021 Jesus is then crucified (nailed to a cross alive), the death of a common criminal. National Geographic, 9 Apr. 2020 The crosses have three beams, the lowest one slanted from left to right to symbolize the different attitudes of the two thieves who were crucified with Jesus Christ. oregonlive, 9 May 2020 The land is ruled by King Uther Pendragon, who allows fanatical Red Paladins to roam the land crucifying villages of people as heretics. Christian Holub, EW.com, 7 May 2020 Anyone who did cross the line ended up getting crucified. Hayes Gardner, The Courier-Journal, 23 Apr. 2020 Folmar’s evaluation of the problem doesn’t account for socioeconomic variables or addiction being a medical condition, but focuses on crucifying the dealers and reduces the problem to a personal decision that must be condemned. Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 3 Apr. 2020 Michael Scott gets crucified: Writer Aaron Schure pitched an idea where Michael's shirt got caught in a garage door while playing basketball. Hannah Yasharoff, USA TODAY, 24 Mar. 2020 See More 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 or harshly
Dishonest judges were crucified in the newspapers.
crucified
verb
as in flayed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- flayed
- gibbeted
- excoriated
- upbraided
- pilloried
- condemned
- scolded
- lashed
- berated
- blamed
- criticized
- keelhauled
- denounced
- hammered
- skewered
- attacked
- censured
- castigated
- lambasted
- faulted
- reprehended
- slagged
- knocked
- panned
- assailed
- slashed
- dissed
- clobbered
- complained
- dispraised
- slammed
- tweaked
- rebuked
- blasted
- kicked
- admonished
- whined
- derided
- muttered
- moaned
- bitched
- reprimanded
- murmured
- griped
- growled
- grumbled
- reproached
- disparaged
- caviled
- groused
- beefed
- belittled
- reproved
- bellyached
- cavilled
- croaked
- niggled
- carped
- sniped (at)
- chid
- nicked (at)
- quibbled
- drubbed
- kvetched
- decried
- crabbed
- chided
- bad-mouthed
- discommended
- fussed
- put down
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- approved
- endorsed
- sanctioned
- indorsed
- commended
- recommended
- praised
- extolled
- lauded
- experient
- experiential
- experiential time
- experientialism
- experientialist
- experientialistic
- experientially
- experiment
- experiment (with)
- experiment station
- experiment with
- experimental
- experimental design
- experimental engineer
- experimental engineering
- experimental psychology
- experimentalise
- experimentalised
- experimentalises
- experimentalising
- experimentalism
- experimentalisms
- experimentalist
- experimentalists
- experimentalize