sacrificed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sacrificed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the act of giving up something valuable for the sake of something else, often in a moral or ethical context. Example: "He sacrificed his own comfort to ensure that his family had a better life."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Cantona will be sacrificed in the name of preserving the values of our national game.

The Guardian - Sport

As Curtis's career progressed, his marriage to Leigh – who had sacrificed her work for him and their children, Jamie Lee and Kelly – began to disintegrate.

The Guardian - Film

The goodwill that they traditionally enjoyed had been sacrificed – as had the chances of winning an entirely justified dispute – by the NUM's indefensible decision not to ballot its members before the strike began.

The Guardian

Related: The Guardian view on the black spider memos: Prince Charles has sacrificed political neutrality | Editorial Lawyers had been hired by Cameron's ministers and were due to go to a freedom of information tribunal later this year to argue in favour of keeping this batch of letters concealed.

The Guardian

Guardian Australia was told the mothers believed that if they sacrificed themselves, their children would have a better chance of being resettled in Australia.

The Guardian

Ashdown and his group publicly deny the parades commission has been sacrificed as part of a bigger game at Stormont.

The Guardian

It would have damaged the constitution and parliament, so the broadcasters were sacrificed instead.

The Guardian - Opinion

3) Accept that the university is a community made up of all those who serve it, not your plaything; nobody can be sacrificed in your name.

The Guardian

They felt history was being rewritten and the name of the RUC was being sacrificed for political expediency and were keen to give their account.

The Guardian

He needs the Arab votes and it could be that to this end, Israel will have to be sacrificed".

The Guardian

These courageous workers sacrificed their careers, frightened their families, sometimes suffered personal destruction, to say that there was something deeply wrong.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "sacrificed", ensure the context clearly indicates what was given up and the reason or benefit gained from the sacrifice. This adds clarity and emphasizes the intentionality behind the action.

Common error

Avoid using "sacrificed" when a simpler term like "gave up" is more appropriate. "Sacrificed" implies a significant loss for a greater purpose, so using it lightly can diminish its impact or sound melodramatic.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "sacrificed" is as the past participle of the verb 'sacrifice'. It is commonly used in the passive voice or as an adjective to describe something that has been given up. Ludwig confirms this through numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "sacrificed" functions primarily as the past participle of 'sacrifice', used to express the act of giving something up for a perceived greater good. Ludwig AI underscores that the phrase is grammatically sound and widely used. It's frequency is "very common" in contexts such as news and media, formal business, and science, with a neutral to formal register making it suitable for professional and academic discourse. When employing "sacrificed", clarity regarding the object and purpose of the sacrifice is crucial. Avoid overusing it in contexts where simpler terms like "gave up" would suffice, and be sure not to confuse it with "compromised".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

gave up

Replaces "sacrificed" with a simpler, more direct verb choice.

forfeited

Implies a loss due to a rule, consequence or choice.

relinquished

Suggests a formal or willing surrender of something.

let go of

Indicates releasing something, often with some difficulty.

went without

Highlights the absence of something due to a decision or circumstance.

lost

A general term indicating the involuntary deprivation of something.

endured

Suggests a hardship or suffering that was tolerated for a purpose.

waived

Signifies voluntarily giving up a right or claim.

surrendered

Emphasizes submission or yielding to an opposing force.

ceded

Implies a formal transfer of control or territory.

FAQs

How can I use "sacrificed" in a sentence?

Use "sacrificed" to describe giving up something valuable for a greater cause or purpose. For example, "He "sacrificed" his free time to volunteer at the local shelter".

What can I say instead of "sacrificed"?

You can use alternatives like "gave up", "forfeited", or "relinquished" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "sacrificed for" or "sacrificed to"?

"Sacrificed for" is used when indicating the beneficiary of the sacrifice, while "sacrificed to" implies the sacrifice was made to appease something or someone. For example, "He "sacrificed" his career for his family" versus "The prisoners were "sacrificed" to the gods".

What's the difference between "sacrificed" and "compromised"?

"Sacrificed" implies giving something up entirely for a perceived greater good, whereas "compromised" suggests making mutual concessions to reach an agreement. "Sacrificed" is a complete loss, while "compromised" is a partial yielding.