humble 1 of 2

adjective

ˈhəm-bəl How to pronounce humble (audio)
Definition of humblenext
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
as in low
belonging to the class of people of low social or economic rank a humble peasant girl who claimed she was chosen by God to restore the French king to his throne

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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

ˈhəm-bəl How to pronounce humble (audio)
as in to humiliate
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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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
San Jose native Roberto Mendoza parlayed humble beginnings as a dishwasher into a culinary career at Michelin star restaurants. — Laura Ness, Mercury News, 2 Aug. 2026 The duo have wowed club staff with their humble attitude, free of the stereotypical ego or baggage that often comes with big transfer fees. — Elias Burke, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026
Verb
His crippling, his stubborn arrogance and refusal to be humbled, has somehow humanized the spoiled brat king. — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 20 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 See All Example Sentences for humble
Recent Examples of Synonyms for humble
  1. meek
  2. low
  3. servile
  4. humiliate
  5. modest
  6. lowly
  7. abject
  8. discredit
Adjective
  • This is just one of many, many kinky situations Hoffman encounters as Elliot, a meek, wide-eyed college graduate who enters into a sadomasochistic relationship with gallery owner Erika Tracey (Olivia Wilde).
    — Anna Tingley, Variety, 31 July 2026
  • Clemson coach Dabo Swinney has never been a meek man, but his results of late — four or more losses in each of the last three seasons — spark worry about the health of his program after a dominant eight-year stretch prior.
    — Chris Branch, New York Times, 17 July 2026
Definition of meek
Adjective
  • Democratic primary voters picked their nominees on Tuesday for three battleground House seats in Virginia that are likely to determine control of the lower chamber in the 2026 midterm elections.
    — Sophia Mandt, The Washington Examiner, 5 Aug. 2026
  • This fuss-free pair has it all—plenty of color choices, comfy low heels, and a sleek, versatile design that will easily match any outfit, especially mini skirts and dresses.
    — Isabel Bekele, InStyle, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of low
Adjective
  • Unfortunately, Trump takes servile flattery as his due.
    — Robert Kagan, The Atlantic, 19 June 2026
  • Of course, all of this convenient acquiescence will sound familiar in the United States, where our own Congress and Department of Justice have been nothing if not servile to a brazenly corrupt executive.
    — Daniel Alarcón, New Yorker, 4 June 2026
Definition of servile
Verb
  • Filming a scene in which Isaiah humiliates Cam, Withers asked Wayans to crack jokes about Kionte’s death — the defining event of Withers’ life, and his lowest point.
    — Daniel D'Addario, Variety, 4 Aug. 2026
  • The moment is a deliberate callback to the premiere, when Max seized a microphone at a fundraiser and humiliated Anna in public.
    — JP Mangalindan, Time, 31 July 2026
Definition of humiliate
Adjective
  • Although the eclipse will be modest compared with the total eclipses seen in 2017 and 2024, favorable weather and an almost perfectly moonless night could make this one of the most memorable astronomy events of the year.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • For years, the FDA has fallen far short on meeting its modest annual goals for foreign food facility inspections, the US Government Accountability Office has found, as the agency struggled to hire and train inspectors.
    — Yahya Abou-Ghazala, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of modest
Adjective
  • That, however, was a flawed concept, as last season’s lowly 10th place finish in the Premier League table proved.
    — Graham Ruthven, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • Such was the predicament the lowly Colorado Rockies found themselves in on Sunday at American Family Field.
    — Johnny Flores Jr, New York Times, 26 July 2026
Definition of lowly
Adjective
  • Saudi Arabia’s catastrophic military intervention in Yemen from 2015 to 2022 ended in abject failure by all accounts, exposing the kingdom as the paper tiger of the Middle East.
    — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 29 July 2026
  • Smith, at least, should provide an upgrade over Justin Fields, who was an abject disaster.
    — Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 16 July 2026
Definition of abject
Verb
  • Those looking to discredit Fauci will surely make hay of these journal entries, which run from December 2019 to December 2022.
    — Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 29 July 2026
  • But questions about the former official’s notes may be intended to do more than shed light on the pandemic’s origins or discredit Fauci’s work.
    — Helen Branswell, STAT, 28 July 2026
Definition of discredit

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Cite this Entry

“Humble.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/humble. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of humble for Spanish Speakers

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