HUMILIATE Synonyms: 104 Similar and Opposite Words

humiliate

verb

hyü-ˈmi-lē-ˌāt

Definition of humiliate

as in to discredit

to reduce to a lower standing in one's own eyes or in others' eyes the reigning tennis champ was humiliated on the court by a newcomer who defeated him in straight sets

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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 humiliate However, they were then humiliated 2-1, after extra time, by second division side Torreense in the final. — Liam Twomey, New York Times, 17 June 2026 Only the United States was humiliated; both countries have experienced a catastrophic loss. — Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 18 June 2026 The autocrat delights in humiliating so many people, not least tech billionaires, including Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg, who once opposed him. — David Remnick, New Yorker, 23 June 2026 Instead of demanding personal fealty or humiliating them to assert personal dominance, Lincoln absorbed their egos and occasional slights, elevating their talents and turning his fiercest political adversaries into his most devoted champions. — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 24 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for humiliate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for humiliate

Verb

Kiryl Pazniak, 49, who hosted a popular political show on YouTube, has been convicted on the charges of discrediting Belarus and forming an extremist organization, the group said — accusations widely used by authorities to stifle critical voices.

— ABC News, ABC News, 2 July 2026
Green said earlier this year that Adebayo shouldn’t be underestimated and his 83-point game against Washington shouldn’t be discredited.

— Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 1 July 2026

Definition of discredit

Verb

At one point, the narrator, embarrassed by his own act of cruelty, gives a sobbing woman all his money and then leaves her alone in a hotel room.

— Hannah Jocelyn, New Yorker, 1 July 2026
Ukraine has carried out major drone strikes on Russia’s two largest cities, embarrassing the Kremlin with images of black plumes of smoke that circulated widely online, despite regulations restricting their publication.

— ABC News, ABC News, 1 July 2026

Definition of embarrass

Verb

When temperatures rise, heat can quietly degrade pantry staples, making refrigeration essential to preserve quality and flavor.

— Anne Wolf, Martha Stewart, 1 July 2026
If leaders are not present and actively developing people, the system degrades—quietly at first, then all at once.

— Brian Coyne, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026

Definition of degrade

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humidity

humiliate

humiliated

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

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Synonyms of humiliate

verb

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