humbling 1 of 3

adjective

as in humiliating

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humbling

2 of 3

noun

as in humiliation

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humbling

3 of 3

verb

present participle of humble
as in discrediting
to reduce to a lower standing in one's own eyes or in others' eyes Philip was utterly humbled by a crushing defeat in the first round of the state chess tournament

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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 humbling
Adjective
Being on an island starving is very humbling. — Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Jan. 2026 Those listeners are the ones who are our backbone, which is very humbling. — Erik Pedersen, Oc Register, 17 Oct. 2025 This sub is routinely very humbling. — Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Aug. 2025
Noun
That experience of not only working with others who are different from you, but also working in service to something larger than yourself – that has a humbling and leveling effect. — Emily Staunton, Christian Science Monitor, 20 Aug. 2026 So having all these human, humbling, awkward things were really fun to explore. — Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Aug. 2026 The former quarterback said the procedures were eye-opening and humbling. — David Brandt, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2026 The same humbling lesson is now being learned by scientists in the field of biology. — Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 17 July 2026 Shares dipped below their IPO price of $135 on Wednesday morning for the first time since listing, a humbling loss for the stock, which had skyrocketed more than 50% in its first days of trading last month. — Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2026 This has been a humbling tournament for Carlo Ancelotti and Thomas Tuchel. — The Athletic Uk Staff, New York Times, 16 July 2026 Quite sadly, but with a certain element of poetic justice, the American team’s 4-1 humbling by Belgium was the opposite broader effect that Trump evidently but delusionally had in mind. — Vahe Gregorian july 7, Kansas City Star, 7 July 2026 But what Connecticut got was the top golfer in the world, at his very best at times, yet bitten in the end by the humbling nature of the most humbling of games. — Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 29 June 2026
Verb
Again, that's what makes this slash to the guide so confusing and humbling. — Jeff Marks, CNBC, 6 Aug. 2026 So far, the process of sourcing a new Italy coach has been humbling. — James Horncastle, New York Times, 28 July 2026 Baseball can be very humbling at times, not just for sports bettors but also for the teams. — David Troy Outkick, FOXNews.com, 17 July 2026 That is exactly the type of humbling experience that is important for actors. — Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 14 July 2026 Watching a mother turtle haul herself ashore under a canopy of stars to lay her eggs is a truly primal and humbling sight. — Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 5 July 2026 But what Connecticut got was the top golfer in the world, at his very best at times, yet bitten in the end by the humbling nature of the most humbling of games. — Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 29 June 2026 For Shen, the response has been both humbling and deeply personal. — Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 29 June 2026 What a fantastic and humbling time to be alive. — Chris Willman, Variety, 24 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for humbling
  1. humiliating
  2. humiliation
  3. discrediting
  4. demeaning
  5. abasement
  6. embarrassing
  7. degrading
  8. degradation
Adjective
  • Of course, there’s a difference between deliberately humiliating or excluding a child, and simply inviting your child’s actual friends to their birthday party.
    — Caroline Chirichella, Parents, 27 Aug. 2026
  • But if the big spending was a statement of intent, this was another humiliating blow.
    — Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of humiliating
Noun
  • Along the way, the audience can expect tons of humiliation, terrible second prizes, and the guarantee that Robertson will turn at least one poor soul's wrong turn into several minutes of unhinged public destruction.
    — Rebecca Rosman, NPR, 31 Aug. 2026
  • There is a feeling of humiliation that stings long after an event has passed.
    — Wilbert L. Cooper, Longreads, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of humiliation
Verb
  • The release of his diaries though, revealed some thoroughly discrediting and upsetting details about Fauci's private beliefs.
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 11 Aug. 2026
  • 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
Definition of discrediting
Adjective
  • By demeaning and alienating most people, Capps predicted, the Christian right wing was planting the seeds of its own demise.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The consulting partner who learned precision was never demeaning.
    — Mark Nevins, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of demeaning
Noun
  • Your historical victory is your reward for your historical abasement.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Jan. 2026
Definition of abasement
Verb
  • The comprehensive regimen is meant to uncover any prior criminal conduct in an applicant’s past as well as embarrassing personal information that could make an employee vulnerable to blackmail.
    — Eric Tucker, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Since then, Hochman has been slammed for playing politics, embarrassing his office and even backing down for no reason other than the pressure was too intense.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of embarrassing
Adjective
  • By suggesting that Black women would willingly place their own children in mortal danger for profit, such narratives provided yet another means of humiliating, degrading and dehumanizing African Americans.
    — The Conversation, The Conversation, 11 Aug. 2026
  • With fracking — which is already outlawed on offshore platforms in California waters, and is widely viewed as an environmentally degrading and often risky process — Gilda’s production would jump to about 4,000 barrels a day.
    — Andre Mouchard, Oc Register, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of degrading
Noun
  • The species’ coastal habitats, such as mangroves and reefs, have also suffered loss and degradation due to urban development and climate change.
    — Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
  • There is no warping, no heat distortion and no structural degradation.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of degradation

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Humbling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/humbling. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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