HUMBLY Synonyms: 60 Similar and Opposite Words

humbly

adverb

Definition of humbly

as in meekly

in a manner showing no signs of pride or self-assertion humbly accepted the criticism

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of humbly Culhane humbly says this is what helped platform him. — Ella Gonzales may 14, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 May 2026 Our journey began humbly in 1983 with high-stakes bingo. — Cody J Martinez, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Mar. 2026 The archbishop knocks on the door with a pastoral staff and humbly requests admission to the cathedral. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 25 Mar. 2026 Some films herald the scope of their ambitions from the opening frame, whereas others start humbly with a mastery that slowly comes to the fore. — Sophie Monks Kaufman, IndieWire, 20 May 2026 The post shows the actress going from humbly accepting the compliment to striking her best modeling poses as the wind blows through her hair. — Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 5 June 2026 Intricate details of both spacecraft stages, down to some individual rivets, can be seen along the spacecraft hulls, while Earth hangs humbly in the background on the bottom half of the frame. — Josh Dinner, Space.com, 18 May 2026 The restaurant from Yao and co-owners Ryan Bailey and Nikki Reginaldo began humbly, as did its beverage program. — Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 16 June 2026 When a coalition of figures assembled at a Georgetown University forum, in February, 2023, the former Crown Prince sat humbly in a row of eight, alongside two actresses, a soccer player, and an Iranian Kurdish separatist. — Azadeh Moaveni, New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for humbly

Adverb

Sincere meekly hands her a flower from his pocket and sits down, appearing penitent.

— Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 29 June 2026
Whether a man chose to use that pistol or meekly give up the money to a robber was up to him.

— Richard Selcer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Apr. 2026

Definition of meekly

Adverb

Contreras, to his credit, came out and pleaded his case politely after interim manager Chad Tracy had a conversation with the umpire.

— Levi Weaver, New York Times, 30 June 2026
Your perspective is changing, but choosing to stay politely objective or undecided will no longer suffice, Libra.

— Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026

Definition of politely

Adverb

This is sending shivers down the spines of regular Democrats, who now sheepishly admit the party has been turned over to the left-wing loons.

— Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 27 June 2026
The boy stepped out of the chair, thanked the staff and said goodbye — only to sheepishly return for a hug with Hiniker.

— Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 18 June 2026

Definition of sheepishly

Adverb

Taken together, the reactions suggest a labor market that is still expanding, but only modestly, and one that is giving policymakers less reason to worry about overheating.

— Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 2 July 2026
Most chipmakers were down modestly premarket after a big sell-off a day earlier that saw Micron lose more than 10%.

— ABC News, ABC News, 2 July 2026

Definition of modestly

Browse Nearby Words

humbling

humbly

humbug

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“Humbly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/humbly. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of humbly

adverb

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