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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Recent Examples of humiliate
Over 24 cycles, the show humiliated hundreds of young, naïve women (and, briefly, men) in the name of entertainment.
—
Emily Palmer Heller, Vulture, 9 July 2025
Soldatov said that along this path was the 2008 war in Georgia, which showed the Russian army would not be humiliated anymore.
—Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 July 2025
Devyn LaBella, a stunt performer, sued Kevin Costner — the director, writer, star, financier and producer of the film — last month, alleging that she was shaken and humiliated after being forced to perform in the scene without warning.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 25 June 2025
Some argue that Iran, under pressure and humiliated by foreign penetration, may be more willing to strike a deal and abandon its nuclear ambitions.
—Narges Bajoghli, Time, 19 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for humiliate
Emily Palmer Heller, Vulture, 9 July 2025
Soldatov said that along this path was the 2008 war in Georgia, which showed the Russian army would not be humiliated anymore.
—Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 July 2025
Devyn LaBella, a stunt performer, sued Kevin Costner — the director, writer, star, financier and producer of the film — last month, alleging that she was shaken and humiliated after being forced to perform in the scene without warning.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 25 June 2025
Some argue that Iran, under pressure and humiliated by foreign penetration, may be more willing to strike a deal and abandon its nuclear ambitions.
—Narges Bajoghli, Time, 19 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for humiliate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for humiliate
Verb
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This is mainly an effort to discredit and demonize property taxes, which DeSantis wants to abolish or severely curtail in Florida.—
Steve Bousquet,
Sun Sentinel,
26 July 2025
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Trump’s theory here, juiced by Gabbard, is that Obama used talk of Russian election interference to discredit Trump’s 2016 election win and hobble his first term in office.—
Chris Brennan,
USA Today,
24 July 2025
Verb
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Look, the Yankees didn’t embarrass themselves in a 4-2 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium on Monday night.—
Brendan Kuty,
New York Times,
29 July 2025
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In the aftermath, the mother was angry for a week, accusing him of undermining her authority and embarrassing her in front of their social circle.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 July 2025
Verb
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Poor sizing can result in uneven temperatures, higher utility bills, potentially shorter equipment lifespan, and degraded indoor air quality.—
Brynn Cooksey,
Forbes.com,
30 July 2025
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The city has earmarked money, some $91 million, but not for a targeted effort to stop the opioid crisis from degrading the quality of life for Boston residents.—
Boston Herald editorial staff,
Boston Herald,
29 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Humiliate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/humiliate. Accessed 7 Aug. 2025.
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