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
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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
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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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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of humble
Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 30 Aug. 2025
From humble beginnings in Nigeria to a boyhood move to Ontario, Oluwaseyi will be able to share how he was drafted 17th overall in the 2022 MLS draft but missed most of his rookie season with the Loons because of issues with his knee, as well as a few hamstring strains.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 29 Aug. 2025
Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2025
Miami’s roster is the most expensive and high-profile in the league, and though the team was coming off a humbling 4-1 loss to Orlando City, Miami was heavily favored against a Galaxy team that had won just three games all season and allowed 52 goals.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 17 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for humble
Adjective
Dieter Koschina could probably get away with being a little less humble.
—Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 30 Aug. 2025
From humble beginnings in Nigeria to a boyhood move to Ontario, Oluwaseyi will be able to share how he was drafted 17th overall in the 2022 MLS draft but missed most of his rookie season with the Loons because of issues with his knee, as well as a few hamstring strains.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 29 Aug. 2025
Verb
Kuang sees possibility instead, as though academia is meant to be constantly humbling.
—Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2025
Miami’s roster is the most expensive and high-profile in the league, and though the team was coming off a humbling 4-1 loss to Orlando City, Miami was heavily favored against a Galaxy team that had won just three games all season and allowed 52 goals.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 17 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for humble
Recent Examples of Synonyms for humble
Adjective
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What threatened to be a meek, straight-sets exit for the 13th seed went full-metal crazy on match point down when Bonzi was interrupted from serving it out after a photographer absent-mindedly walked onto the court.—
Tim Ellis,
Forbes.com,
26 Aug. 2025
-
Social deficits can manifest as belligerent or meek.—
Tao Lin,
Harpers Magazine,
20 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Steer clear of puddles - Driving into puddles or low areas of rainwater can cause vehicles to hydroplane or skid out of control.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
7 Sep. 2025
-
Add eggs one at a time, mixing on low.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Sep. 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
-
Inter Miami, clearly humiliated, let out its frustrations after the final whistle, when several Miami players, led by Luis Suarez, got into a scuffle with Seattle players.—
Michelle Kaufman,
Miami Herald,
1 Sep. 2025
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These violations, perpetrated primarily against Ukrainian prisoners of war, include genital violence such as electrocution, beatings and burns to the genitals, and forced stripping and prolonged nudity, used to humiliate and elicit confessions or information.—
Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab,
Forbes.com,
30 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
The other two counties, Clinton located outside of Lafayette and Clark across the Ohio River from Louisville, referred inquiries about those partnerships to ICE, which has not responded with records requested by IndyStar. Marion County's Adult Detention Center has more modest numbers.—
Kristine Phillips,
IndyStar,
26 Aug. 2025
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Fourth-grade average reading scores in Milwaukee dropped from 196 in 2009 to 179 in 2024, while peer districts have shown modest gains.—
Claudia Levens,
jsonline.com,
26 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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When opportunities arise, whether lowly paid or not, we’re often left with no other choice than to take the role that pays meagerly.—
Robyn Mowatt,
Essence,
1 Sep. 2025
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After the Cubs took the first two games of their series against the lowly Colorado Rockies, the worst team in baseball had a parting gift for the Cubs -- a walk-off triple from outfielder Mickey Moniak to drop Chicago to 5-4 on the trip.—
Jackson Roberts,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Weaknesses: About that quarterback: Caleb Williams was drafted No. 1 overall into a pretty favorable situation, making his rookie season an abject failure (particularly relative to the No. 2 pick).—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
26 Aug. 2025
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Weapons plays along the same lines in this sub-genre’s sandbox, too, denying easy catharsis after wracking viewers’ nerves with its combination of pitch-black humor, abject grief, and superbly conducted jump scares.—
Andy Crump,
Time,
9 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Eventually, however, Lowell’s ideas were discredited—Schiaparelli, once an ally, renounced them—and the world moved on.—
Jon Allsop,
New Yorker,
29 Aug. 2025
-
By the end of the year, the cold fusion bubble had burst, the technology was discredited, and the concept relegated to bad spy fiction and conspiracy theories.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
29 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Humble.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/humble. Accessed 7 Sep. 2025.
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