HUMILIATING Synonyms: 121 Similar and Opposite Words

humiliating 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of humiliating

as in demeaning

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Dissimilar Words

humiliating

2 of 2

verb

present participle of humiliate

as in discrediting

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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 humiliating

Adjective

Still, a 0-0 draw against Cape Verde was a humiliating and hugely disappointing result for the Euro 2024 champions. — Tim Spiers, New York Times, 20 June 2026 Like other female inmates in Tennessee and beyond, Sellars experienced strip searches that are more humiliating than what men experience because of their menstrual cycles. — Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 29 June 2026

Verb

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 First there was Norwegian’s Sturla Holm Lægreid confessing to cheating on his girlfriend during a live interview after winning the bronze medal and tearfully begging her to come back (shockingly, humiliating his ex on national television didn’t work). — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 13 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for humiliating

Recent Examples of Synonyms for humiliating

Adjective

This is demeaning, unfair, and dangerous to women and girls, and denies women and girls the equal opportunity to participate and excel in competitive sports.

— Jon Root OutKick, FOXNews.com, 27 June 2026
Some women who filed lawsuits against Ortega reported they had been confused about whether demeaning or uncomfortable actions the doctor engaged in during exams was within the bounds of necessary medical behavior.

— Emily Hoerner, Chicago Tribune, 12 June 2026

Definition of demeaning

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
Defense attorney Tom Mesereau was an expert at discrediting witnesses, subjects told the filmmakers, but certain key witnesses, like Janet Arvizo, struggled to connect with the jury on their own.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 5 June 2026

Definition of discrediting

Adjective

No one should be subject to listening to the most degrading and profane words that now seem popular with some people.

— Judith Martin, Mercury News, 16 June 2026
According to the company, the electronic attack variant is intended to provide non-kinetic effects on the battlefield by disrupting and degrading enemy sensors and reconnaissance networks.

— Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 14 June 2026

Definition of degrading

Verb

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
But in this case, the ejection was absolutely unnecessary and, frankly, embarrassing for Lentz.

— Levi Weaver, New York Times, 30 June 2026

Definition of embarrassing

Verb

Last year, a judge threw out the accusations of body shaming following a motion from Lizzo’s team that argued that events like the nude show outings were protected free speech as part of the creative process.

— Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 29 June 2026
The loud and insistent residents of Monterey Park showed that shaming and pressuring politicians can work.

— Carlos De Loera, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2026

Definition of shaming

Verb

Why are adults so comfortable publicly disgracing Black teenage girls going to their prom and being cruel toward strangers who are sometimes half their age?

— Essence, Essence, 11 May 2026
The plotting becomes needlessly complicated at times, such as with Jack becoming a local hero after foiling a burglary, and later disgracing himself with a drunken tirade at a Christmas tree lighting ceremony, which leads to him being arrested and put on trial.

— Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 24 Nov. 2025

Definition of disgracing

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

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Synonyms of humiliating

adjective

verb

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