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 She was so thoroughly humiliated that a fellow female in the academy came to her with some Scotch tape to try to cover her up. — Wilbert L. Cooper, Longreads, 25 Aug. 2026 Much of the behavior on display is plainly harassment and bullying, often filmed without the subjects’ knowledge or consent and uploaded online to humiliate them further. — Maggie Harrison Dupré, Futurism, 19 Aug. 2026 In their first national title game, the Wildcats humiliated Oklahoma in the national semifinal by 44, and in their second, demoralized Michigan in the title game by 17. — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2026 After being publicly humiliated by Daemon Targaryen and lured to switch sides (with his dragon) to the Greens by Ormund Hightower, party animal Ulf is still drunk and MIA when the battle starts. — Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 10 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for humiliate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for humiliate

Verb

In trying to discredit public concerns about data centers as a psyop, Goldman and others said, tech leaders are taking a page out of the intelligence playbook themselves.

— Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026
Inflicting these details on the jury, the children’s family members, and the public served no discernible purpose in establishing Clancy’s mens rea, which might have discredited her not-guilty plea.

— Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of discredit

Verb

Or from locking up Mick Cronin through 2030, even though UCLA’s prickly basketball coach embarrasses the university annually and hasn’t reached a Sweet 16 since 2023.

— Mirjam Swanson, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
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

Definition of embarrass

Verb

The sources firmly rejected the draft declarations, characterizing them as publicity stunts designed to mock the league, sow division, and draw attention to the topic by demeaning others.

— Wayne Sterling, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
The Fishback file James Fishback, with no relevant accomplishments or experience, is running a disgracefully racist and antisemitic campaign marked by demeaning attacks on Donalds, who is Black.

— Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of demean

Verb

Iran is expanding its defense capabilities, an Iranian army commander said Wednesday, after much of the country’s equipment was degraded by US-Israeli strikes in the early days of the war.

— Mustafa Qadri, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2026
The status of its nuclear program, degraded by bombing strikes in 2025, hasn't changed.

— Susan Page, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of degrade

Browse Nearby Words

humidity

humiliate

humiliated

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“Humiliate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/humiliate. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of humiliate

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