as in demeaning
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of humiliating
Sebastian Smee, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
Not when the meltdown is that complete, that historic, that humiliating.
—Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 May 2026
Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 5 Mar. 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
Adjective
The French Revolution, coming so soon after America’s successful War of Independence, had produced first the Terror and then a war of conquest that culminated in humiliating defeat.
—Sebastian Smee, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
Not when the meltdown is that complete, that historic, that humiliating.
—Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 May 2026
Verb
Some, like Zdorovetskiy, have been accused of assaulting and humiliating their targets as viewers push for violence.
—Shira Moolten, Sun Sentinel, 5 Mar. 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
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Despite the demeaning work, Laura, a local woman, has risen to middle management through unyielding determination.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 May 2026
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Not in a demeaning way but in a loving a caring way.—
David Chiu,
PEOPLE,
15 May 2026
Verb
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Orbán’s rule was marked by a sprawling media ecosystem, which for years served as a loyal mouthpiece for his Fidesz party while discrediting, defaming and intimidating his opponents.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
18 May 2026
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My fear is that poor implementation and, above all, a failure to take accountability seriously will end up discrediting good ideas.—
Rachel Canter,
The Atlantic,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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There’s an adjustment period — percale can feel crisp at first — but most people acclimate within a week or two and find cotton softens further with every wash, rather than pilling or degrading like synthetics.—
Allison Palmer,
Charlotte Observer,
21 Apr. 2026
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Most people acclimate within a week or two, and cotton gets softer with every wash rather than pilling or degrading.—
Allison Palmer,
Miami Herald,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Lutnick's voluntary closed-door interview comes amid a monthslong procession of powerful people summoned before the committee, many of whom have been subjected to embarrassing revelations in the more than 3 million pages of records known as the Epstein files.—
Graham Kates,
CBS News,
6 May 2026
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The Game 4 defeat – the no-silver-lining, embarrassing 6-1 loss – left a particularly rancid taste in everyone’s mouth.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Being on an island starving is very humbling.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 Jan. 2026
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Those listeners are the ones who are our backbone, which is very humbling.—
Erik Pedersen,
Oc Register,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Many reports that do arrive to the Honor Committee are now anonymous because of another technological development of longer standing—social media—which has reportedly deterred students from reporting openly out of apprehension of doxxing or shaming among their peer groups.—
Nate Anderson,
ArsTechnica,
13 May 2026
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But in this case, a student posted at least two videos that were widely perceived as sort of shaming women for the way their bodies work.—
Torie Bosch,
STAT,
9 May 2026
Adjective
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The second, a 2-1 home defeat, was mortifying.—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
14 May 2026
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And what could be more mortifying than getting lower ratings than your mother?—
Jessica Winter,
New Yorker,
7 May 2026
Verb
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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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Humiliating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/humiliating. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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