crucify: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal (literal), Informal (figurative)
Quick answer
What does “crucify” mean?
To put someone to death by nailing or binding them to a cross.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To put someone to death by nailing or binding them to a cross; to execute in this manner, specifically referring to the historical Roman method of capital punishment.
To subject someone to severe criticism, ridicule, or public punishment; to cause intense mental or emotional suffering; (informal) to defeat decisively.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant syntactic differences. Both use the figurative sense commonly. Spelling is identical.
Connotations
The primary religious/literal connotation is equally strong in both due to shared Christian cultural history.
Frequency
Similar frequency in both varieties, though corpus data suggests slightly higher figurative use in British English informal contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “crucify” in a Sentence
SVOO (rare, e.g., 'They crucified him a heretic')SVO (standard, e.g., 'The critics crucified the film.')Passive Voice (common, e.g., 'The manager was crucified for his decision.')Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “crucify” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The tabloids will crucify the MP over that scandal.
- Historians debate the exact location where they crucified him.
American English
- The coach crucified the team for their lack of effort.
- The senator was crucified in the debate last night.
adverb
British English
- No common adverbial form.
American English
- No common adverbial form.
adjective
British English
- No common adjectival form. 'Crucifixional' is extremely rare.
American English
- No common adjectival form.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Informal/figurative: 'The CEO was crucified by shareholders after the failed merger.'
Academic
Rare, mostly in historical/religious studies: 'The Romans would crucify rebels as a public deterrent.'
Everyday
Figurative/hyperbolic: 'My mum will crucify me if I come home this late.'
Technical
Not used in technical fields outside of historical/archaeological discussion of execution methods.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “crucify”
- Using it literally to mean just 'kill' (it specifies a method).
- Using the infinitive incorrectly after the verb (e.g., 'They crucified him to leave' – incorrect).
- Confusing 'crucify' with 'crucifix' (noun).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It can be, depending on context and audience. As it references a specific form of execution central to Christian belief, some may find casual figurative use disrespectful. It's generally acceptable in secular, informal contexts but should be used with awareness in mixed company.
The related nouns are 'crucifixion' (the act of crucifying) and 'crucifix' (a representation of Christ on the cross). 'Crucifixion' is used both literally and figuratively.
Almost never. Its connotations are overwhelmingly negative, involving punishment, suffering, and defeat.
'Crucify' is an extreme, hyperbolic form of 'criticize'. It implies not just finding fault, but doing so mercilessly, publicly, and often with the intent to destroy a reputation or cause severe humiliation.
To put someone to death by nailing or binding them to a cross.
Crucify is usually formal (literal), informal (figurative) in register.
Crucify: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkruːsɪfaɪ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkruːsəfaɪ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “crucify someone on a cross of [something]”
- “a crucifixion in the media”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'CRUCI' (like 'crucial' or 'crucible' for severe test) + 'FY' (like 'magnify' - to make big). To 'crucify' is to make a big, severe test of someone through punishment or criticism.
Conceptual Metaphor
HARSH CRITICISM IS PHYSICAL TORTURE / PUBLIC SHAMING IS CRUCIFIXION.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the use of 'crucify' LEAST appropriate?