as in discrediting
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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as in humiliating
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as in humiliation
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Recent Examples of humbling
Erik Pedersen, Oc Register, 17 Oct. 2025
This sub is routinely very humbling.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Aug. 2025
Becky Sullivan, NPR, 20 Oct. 2025
The Panthers are winless through its first four games on this five-game road trip, with their 3-0 loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday afternoon at KeyBank Center perhaps the most humbling of the quartet.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 18 Oct. 2025
For Jackie, the experience became a humbling reminder that even the most careful new parents will make mistakes—and that is okay.
—Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025
By Antonio Morales, Austin Meek and Ira Gorawara Michigan’s first trip to the Coliseum since 1957 produced a statement win for USC and a humbling loss for the Wolverines.
—The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
What's your last humbling and or hilarious moment outside?
—Outside Online, 8 Oct. 2025
This is a very humbling business.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Oct. 2025
So, that was a good learning experience and a humbling experience of being on the outside and trying to weasel my way in.
—Nick Caruso, TVLine, 25 Sep. 2025
It's been a very humbling experience, but also a fight for my life experience.
—Daniela Avila, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2025
Mackenzie Cummings-Grady, Billboard, 20 Oct. 2025
In Trader’s defense, McConkey likely would left several defensive backs in a similarly humbling position.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2025
This remarkable discovery is a powerful and humbling reminder that people have walked this land, our home in Fayette County, for millennia.
—Jennifer Rodriguez, Kansas City Star, 14 Oct. 2025
There was something so humbling and beautiful in seeing one great athlete crown another.
—Lynnette Nicholas, Essence, 13 Oct. 2025
Then, the team offered something of a tribute to the final years of Sullivan’s time in Pittsburgh in a humbling 6-1 loss.
—Josh Yohe, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
To have led this extraordinary community has been nothing short of humbling.
—Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2025
Watching a mother turtle haul herself ashore under a canopy of stars to lay her eggs is a truly primal and humbling sight.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 29 Sep. 2025
Learning anything new as an adult is humbling.
—Sarah Stockdale, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
Those listeners are the ones who are our backbone, which is very humbling.
—Erik Pedersen, Oc Register, 17 Oct. 2025
This sub is routinely very humbling.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Aug. 2025
Adjective
By contrast, the 93-69 Dodgers stumbled at times during the regular season, including several late-game collapses by a shaky bullpen and a humbling September sweep by the last-place Pittsburgh Pirates.
—Becky Sullivan, NPR, 20 Oct. 2025
The Panthers are winless through its first four games on this five-game road trip, with their 3-0 loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday afternoon at KeyBank Center perhaps the most humbling of the quartet.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 18 Oct. 2025
For Jackie, the experience became a humbling reminder that even the most careful new parents will make mistakes—and that is okay.
—Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025
By Antonio Morales, Austin Meek and Ira Gorawara Michigan’s first trip to the Coliseum since 1957 produced a statement win for USC and a humbling loss for the Wolverines.
—The Athletic College Football Staff, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
What's your last humbling and or hilarious moment outside?
—Outside Online, 8 Oct. 2025
This is a very humbling business.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Oct. 2025
So, that was a good learning experience and a humbling experience of being on the outside and trying to weasel my way in.
—Nick Caruso, TVLine, 25 Sep. 2025
It's been a very humbling experience, but also a fight for my life experience.
—Daniela Avila, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2025
Noun
The prospect of being a father and getting to watch my wife become a mother is both humbling and exciting.
—Mackenzie Cummings-Grady, Billboard, 20 Oct. 2025
In Trader’s defense, McConkey likely would left several defensive backs in a similarly humbling position.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2025
This remarkable discovery is a powerful and humbling reminder that people have walked this land, our home in Fayette County, for millennia.
—Jennifer Rodriguez, Kansas City Star, 14 Oct. 2025
There was something so humbling and beautiful in seeing one great athlete crown another.
—Lynnette Nicholas, Essence, 13 Oct. 2025
Then, the team offered something of a tribute to the final years of Sullivan’s time in Pittsburgh in a humbling 6-1 loss.
—Josh Yohe, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
To have led this extraordinary community has been nothing short of humbling.
—Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2025
Watching a mother turtle haul herself ashore under a canopy of stars to lay her eggs is a truly primal and humbling sight.
—Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 29 Sep. 2025
Learning anything new as an adult is humbling.
—Sarah Stockdale, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for humbling
Verb
-
This announcement, humiliating the involved member, is harmful.—
Kelly G. Richardson,
Oc Register,
29 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
What once was aberrant—indeed, unimaginable—is now standard Trump fare, demeaning not only to the Presidency but to the rule of law.—
Ruth Marcus,
New Yorker,
9 Oct. 2025
-
For decades, Indigenous leaders and advocates across the state and country have been trying to convince school communities that the use of such mascots and logos are inappropriate, demeaning and harmful.—
Frank Vaisvilas,
jsonline.com,
29 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Allen has always had a catholic approach to musical style, and that attitude serves the emotional spectrum of West End Girl well, with the stages of relationship grief and personal humiliation echoed by the music surrounding her.—
Maura Johnston,
Rolling Stone,
27 Oct. 2025
-
The lawsuit draws attention to the emotional harm and humiliation caused by such images.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Already, Cuba’s top diplomats have been sharing propaganda content discrediting Machado as a warmonger.—
Nora Gamez Torres,
Miami Herald,
10 Oct. 2025
-
There would be accusations of race manipulation, an online mob discrediting Wallace’s win as undeserved, and an angry Joe Gibbs Racing organization, which would now realize Hamlin puts another team’s interests ahead of their own.—
Jeff Gluck,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Charles Rolsky, executive director and senior research scientist at the Shaw Institute, a nonprofit focusing on the links between environmental and human health, says that many studies, including his own, suggest PVA can pass through wastewater treatment without completely degrading.—
Matt Fuchs,
Time,
29 Sep. 2025
-
The mission emphasized that detaining adolescents under such conditions amounts to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
For French Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin, the heist spotlights embarrassing security failings at one of France’s most venerable institutions.—
Jacqui Palumbo,
CNN Money,
21 Oct. 2025
-
The New York Mets fell short of the postseason in embarrassing fashion last season, so this offseason is going to be more important than ever.—
Zach Pressnell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
This is not a disaster or a triumph — this is just high school as a necessary, sometimes mortifying, and occasionally meaningful part of life.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
6 Oct. 2025
-
The mortifying moment comes at a time when international tourism continues to rebound strongly despite global uncertainty.—
Soo Kim,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The team believes their approach could eventually help regions struggling with industrial contamination and agricultural degradation.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Housing materials in artistic practice are fitting for an environment that is constantly under simultaneous construction and degradation, with sea levels continuing to rise, potholes throughout the city and as our own infrastructure buckles under the weight of an ever growing population.—
Mario Rodriguez,
Miami Herald,
23 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Humbling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/humbling. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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