humble 1 of 2

1
as in meek
not having or showing any feelings of superiority, self-assertiveness, or showiness a medical scientist who remained remarkably humble even after winning the Nobel Prize even though she'd been proven wrong, her attitude was still far from humble

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2
3
as in servile
showing, expressing, or offered in a spirit of humility or unseemly submissiveness please accept my humble thanks for this unexpected favor

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humble

2 of 2

verb

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 humble
Adjective
Guiteau, though, is a lot less noble than Garfield, and a lot less humble. David Bianculli, NPR, 10 Nov. 2025 Paul was the ultimate steward of the game — tall in stature, humble in presence and decisive in his loyalty to the NFL. Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 9 Nov. 2025
Verb
There is little evidence that Ozer has been humbled. Steve Belanger, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2025 And no play better epitomized this possibly new, perhaps even humbled Kuminga than his offensive rebound with one minute to play in the game. Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 22 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for humble
Recent Examples of Synonyms for humble
Adjective
  • This meek performance prompted a furious reaction from the fanbase.
    Jay Harris, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025
  • Tessa Thompson stars as the willful heroine, married to a rather meek academic, George Tesman (Tom Bateman), who’s angling for an important university position.
    Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The research team highlighted that beyond water harvesting, these coatings could help reduce urban heat island effects, lower energy needs for air-conditioning and provide climate-resilient water sources in regions facing growing heat and water stress.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 9 Nov. 2025
  • When camping in an open environment, select a campsite in a valley, ravine, or low region.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Bahrain is ruled by Sunnis and has a mostly Shiite population permanently restless over its servile condition.
    Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 13 June 2025
  • His servile defense secretary has threatened to deploy the military in other cities.
    Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 13 June 2025
Verb
  • Strummer was humiliated by the whole album.
    Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 9 Nov. 2025
  • The Heat’s next two games comes against a Cavaliers team that humiliated Miami out of the first round of the playoffs last season.
    Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • In Gaza’s Shati refugee camp, my grandfather built a modest shack, brick by brick, on the spot where his tent was erected.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Nov. 2025
  • Despite its status as a bustling urban center, Nya Lödöse clearly retained its agricultural roots; consequently, the open, semi-rural structure of the southern section included agricultural plots, modest houses, and gardens.
    Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • They were upset by both the Giants in Week 4, when he was limited to 10 snaps, and the Commanders in Week 5 (to say nothing of their narrow Week 6 win over the lowly Dolphins or their 38-24 loss to the Colts in Week 7).
    Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Mainstream society, generally intent on grooming doctors, lawyers, accountants, scientists, engineers, and computer coders, perceived a student learning a working-class skilled trade as somehow lowly, poorly compensated, a second-class citizen.
    Stephen Tave, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Last year, those three forwards on the court at the same time were an abject nightmare that took basketball back to the early aughts.
    Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 29 Oct. 2025
  • His hair is the kind of shaggy that suggests abject neglect more than overpriced Hollywood coiffure.
    Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Angels counsel has attempted to discredit these former employees, portraying them as bitter because of their dismissals from the club.
    Sam Blum, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
  • Some of these posts that claim to show theft as a result of no SNAP have been discredited, while others questioned for their authenticity.
    Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Humble.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/humble. Accessed 19 Nov. 2025.

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