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.
crucifiers
noun
as in denigrators
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- denigrators
- assailants
- attackers
- condemners
- criticasters
- decriers
- denouncers
- detractors
- hairsplitters
- deriders
- railers
- quibblers
- belittlers
- condemnors
- faultfinders
- pettifoggers
- rebukers
- haranguers
- hypercritics
- cavillers
- criticizers
- cavilers
- admonishers
- ranters
- carpers
- disparagers
- scolds
- upbraiders
- reproachers
- critics
- reprovers
- nitpickers
- censurers
- nigglers
- grousers
- knockers
- crybabies
- gripers
- complainers
- grumblers
- bellyachers
- whiners
- castigators
- grouches
- fussers
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- praisers
- commenders