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.
crucifies
verb
as in berates
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- berates
- upbraids
- excoriates
- criticizes
- scolds
- flays
- blames
- pillories
- denounces
- lambastes
- lambasts
- gibbets
- castigates
- condemns
- faults
- hammers
- assails
- knocks
- lashes
- censures
- slags
- skewers
- slashes
- attacks
- keelhauls
- pans
- slams
- clobbers
- complains
- disses
- reprehends
- dispraises
- whines
- chides
- blasts
- kicks
- mutters
- admonishes
- derides
- tweaks
- beefs
- cavils
- bitches
- moans
- bellyaches
- belittles
- rebukes
- disparages
- growls
- decries
- reproves
- grumbles
- gripes
- crabs
- carps
- murmurs
- grouses
- croaks
- kvetches
- reproaches
- reprimands
- bad-mouths
- snipes (at)
- quibbles
- drubs
- nicks (at)
- niggles
- fusses
- discommends
- puts down
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- approves
- endorses
- commends
- recommends
- indorses
- sanctions
- lauds
- praises
- extols
- extolls
- settles down
- settles on
- settles on or upon
- settles on someone
- settles on something
- settles someone or something down
- settles something on
- settles something on someone
- settles upon
- settles upon something
- settling
- settling (down)
- settling (on or upon)
- settling day
- settling down
- settling on
- settling on or upon
- settling on someone
- settling on something
- settling price
- settling reservoir
- settling someone or something down
- settling something on
- settling something on someone
- settling upon