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.
crucifier
noun
as in denigrator
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- denigrator
- criticaster
- derider
- hairsplitter
- decrier
- attacker
- belittler
- assailant
- rebuker
- haranguer
- detractor
- hypercritic
- upbraider
- quibbler
- reproacher
- niggler
- condemner
- pettifogger
- railer
- denouncer
- caviller
- disparager
- scold
- condemnor
- admonisher
- caviler
- faultfinder
- bellyacher
- ranter
- knocker
- carper
- censurer
- fusser
- reprover
- criticizer
- grouser
- critic
- nitpicker
- crybaby
- castigator
- griper
- complainer
- whiner
- grumbler
- grouch
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- praiser
- commender
- a roll of the dice
- a roof over one's head
- a rovescio
- a safe bet
- a shade
- a shadow of (a) doubt
- a shadow of a doubt
- a shadow of doubt
- a share of the pie
- a sharp tongue
- a shiver runs down someone's spine
- a shiver runs up someone's spine
- a shock to someone's system
- a shock to the system
- a shock to the/someone's system
- a shot
- a shot across someone's bow
- a shot across someone's bows
- a shot across the bow
- a shot across the bows
- a shot across the/someone's bow(s)
- a shoulder to cry on
- a show of hands
- a sight to behold
- a sight to see