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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 humble
Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 26 Apr. 2025
His final wish: to be remembered as a humble priest, not as a figure of worldly power.
—Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Apr. 2025
Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 30 Mar. 2025
They are humbled by the depth of their own domains.
—Rhea Wessel, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for humble
Adjective
His humble approach to people explains why many of us regardless of religion are saddened by the pope’s death.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 26 Apr. 2025
His final wish: to be remembered as a humble priest, not as a figure of worldly power.
—Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Apr. 2025
Verb
The visitors from the north leave KC humbled by the experience.
—Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 30 Mar. 2025
They are humbled by the depth of their own domains.
—Rhea Wessel, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for humble
Recent Examples of Synonyms for humble
Adjective
-
Complacency, cowardice and meek self-preservation won’t do here and now.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
19 Apr. 2025
-
Ahead of the clash with Bournemouth, Guardiola has said not even victory in the competition would salvage the poor showings in the Champions League and meek surrender of the Premier League title.—
Zak Garner-Purkis,
Forbes.com,
31 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
The dollar this week hit its lowest level in three years.—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
25 Apr. 2025
-
The evening is expected to be mostly clear with a low around 52.—
Todd Karpovich,
Baltimore Sun,
25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
So Alex dons a uniform, buses tables and engages in servile labor for the first time in her life.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
23 Mar. 2025
-
Trump’s servile devotion to Putin becomes the new norm overnight as Republicans cower in support of Trump’s new Putin policy.—
Bob Kustra,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Shawn reluctantly agrees, but is humiliated when Cory starts acting corny around his friend Gambling Dan (Phil Buckman), and his lackey, Louie (Weiss).—
EW.com,
EW.com,
16 Apr. 2025
-
He must be seen standing up to foreign oppressors who seek to humiliate China and thwart its rightful rise.—
Michael Schuman,
The Atlantic,
11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Consensus estimates point to modest nonfarm payroll growth of 130,000 in April and the unemployment rate holding steady at 4.2%.—
Bill Stone,
Forbes.com,
27 Apr. 2025
-
The funeral will be less formal than other papal funerals, with Francis having made changes last year around the process, including the use of a modest wooden coffin.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Opposing quarterbacks had a lowly 61.1 passer rating when targeting Robinson in 2024.—
Matt Barrows,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2025
-
But the season finale might find Gibbs having misgivings of a different kind, thanks to another familiar face from the NCIS family — agent Lara Macy (Claire Berger), currently still a lowly MP trying to make a name for herself.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
EW.com,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
That truth starts with the abject brutality and premeditation of the murders themselves.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
16 Apr. 2025
-
Though the club’s starters have pitched better than their 3-13 record indicates, the bullpen’s been an abject disaster, with a 5.92 ERA coming into Monday that’s the fourth-worst in baseball.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
15 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Biden’s actions continue to discredit the legitimacy of our judicial system.—
Carl Burdette,
Baltimore Sun,
21 Apr. 2025
-
The current page suggests this paper's explicit intention was to discredit the lab leak theory and remove any doubt that the origins were of natural origin.—
Youri Benadjaoud,
ABC News,
18 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Humble.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/humble. Accessed 3 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share